First Semester: (almost) done

The first semester of classes for my MA in Archaeology at Tel Aviv University has finished; standing in front of me are papers and an exam. In classes we studied sites like Megiddo, Lachish, and Khirbet Qeiyafa in the context of the Bronze-Iron Ages and studying people groups like the Philistines and Canaanites and how they settled, which we see reflected in archaeology. I also studied how to look at objects in context and will continue to learn Hittite through next semester.

I am working on campus this semester to make money for rent and food. I want to thank those who helped with my tuition. Your gifts helped pay for this year's studies; I have one more year after this one and will write a thesis to complete the degree. If you want to give to help me fund my degree, here is the link to my GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/ma-in-archaeology-in-israel/donations. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Here are photos from our field trip to Azekah (where we will dig this summer) and Tel Gath:

View from Tel Azekah

View of Tel Gath

Here are some photos from the day we went to visit and dig at the gigantic Bet Shemesh Salvage Excavation that our professor is leading:

View from across the street of the excavation and modern town.

View of the old excavations. There's a water cistern on this side as well.

View of the salvage dig in progress

Digging and recording

Animal bones in the area we were digging

Learning to section, which means creating straight lines for clean squares

Zippori also made the news with a cool find from the Mossad Pool, where I was digging earlier this year. Read about the find here.

Mossad Pool at Zippori

Pagan Bull found in the pool

The holidays included some meals with classmates from my program and time in Yafo:

I'm also continuing to work during the break, besides the other thing I'll be doing (which is below). Here's a photo from the university:

The exciting news is that I'm going to dig at Masada for a few weeks over the break, so I'll make sure to take photos and blog about it after!

Here are more photos from the Yafo port, in the area where I live currently:

Go Fund Me Page

I'm currently in the midst of my first year in the Masters of Arts program for Archaeology at Tel Aviv University. I'm enjoying the classes and working for the department as well, and being involved as much as possible. I'm in need of some help for funding for the program, because it's expensive and Tel Aviv also has a high cost of living. I'm linking my Go Fund Me page I created. I would greatly appreciate any help of any amount!

https://www.gofundme.com/manage/ma-in-archaeology-in-israel/donations

Back to school...

Well into my first month of school, and it's definitely time for an update!

I began my second Masters degree, in archaeology, in the International MA program at Tel Aviv University last month. It's a small program - only eight of us - and so far it's going great. I'm taking a class in Hittite, as well as history and archaeology classes and seminars.

Tel Aviv University sunset

This past week I began a job at the school editing papers for publication in my department, which was a needed change. My schedule is going to be busy, but for good reasons!

I also got my passport recently, which I had to wait to apply for (it's a rule), so that was exciting! There are still a few more post-Aliyah things to straighten out so I'm hoping those get done quickly as well.

In my program we will have eight trips to various archaeological sites. We had our first one a couple of weeks ago, which included a visit to Zippori, which was exciting since I've been there multiple times this year digging and love the site!

The arches reservoir at Zippori

Manot Cave

View from Tel Shimron

Also, rainy season has begun here, which means the weather is cooling down as well. I'm still living in Yafo - it's a commute to school but I love the area. Now I'm off to research some sites and work on Hittite! :)

My Yafo running view

Citizenship!

Wow, so much has been happening since my last post and life has been crazy! I think I've been busier than ever but it's all been good, so here's an update:

The last place I dug with my dad and sister was the first week of Tel Dan. Here's some photos from the dig and of the area:

 

 

 

During the dig we stayed on a Moshav, which is an agricultural village. This one has a dairy farm and we got a tour:

Mt. Hermon in the background     

During the dig, we went to Jerusalem for my Aliyah appointment... and I am officially an Israeli citizen! So, much of my current busyness is connected with all I have to do post-Aliyah.

We toured Agrippa's palace and other parts of the Banias Springs Nature Reserve. Here are some photos:

After the dig, we traveled back to Haifa where we stayed for a couple nights before my dad and sister went back to the States. We stopped at some sites along the way, including Rosh Haniqra, on the border with Lebanon and known for its grottoes:

Haifa beach sunset!

Currently I am living in Yafo (Tel Aviv) and working at a hostel. I will begin school in October at Tel Aviv University for my MA in Archaeology. Until then, I'm trying to soak up the benefits of living in Yafo!

Digging Season

My last post ended with my family's first weekend here. The next weekend I toured with them, which included a stay in Tiberias, traveling around the Galilee, and hiking up Mt. Arbel.

Views from Mt. Arbel:

 

 

Maimonides' tomb in Tiberias

Sea of Galilee view

I continued to photograph Bet Shearim, and my dad got to come with me one day as well. My mom went back to the states and I have been traveling with my dad and sister. We have been digging in Zippori and Gezer (cleaning steps in the tunnel), spent some time in Haifa and Jerusalem, and are about to do more digging at Tel Hadid, as well as at Tel Dan following that.

With my dad at the spring in Haifa

One more view from my Haifa apartment!

View from the Haifa Promenade

 

Family in Haifa

More from Bet Shearim tombs

Me on the job at Bet Shearim

Back at Gezer cleaning the steps in the water system!

Visit to Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem