Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:04:27
+0200

From: Barnea Levi Selavan  <barnea@...>

Subject: come join an exciting dig this week and next - Elah Fortress
-

  with Hebrew U and Foundation Stone



Friends,


Hebrew University and Foundation Stone are excavating and developing an
exciting and revolutionary site called Elah Fortress.


I am inviting you to come dig, and to bring your family and friends to
dig- but to seriously dig. We have seven excavation days left in the
season, until next Tuesday. We need manpower now to uncover a key area
while the team is there.


I enclose a rough "ad" David Willner put together just to give
a taste.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvtmETQmRqw



The city is 2900 years old based on the pottery


It is the largest intact biblical site of the period ever discovered in
the country


Its fortifications from that time can be seen above ground over the
entire hill


It overlooks Elah Valley and is on the border with the
Philistines


Six details of the excavation so far, after just a few weeks, will change
the textbooks and history books (e.g. this kind of pottery from early
Iron Age II in a fortified, not open, city)


The satisfaction of digging is immediate! You see the outlines of the
rooms to dig, you dig, you find, you expose for all to see, and the
magnificent fortifications take your breath away


Rosh yeshivos, senior archaeologists, Jews with no backgrounds, students,
are all deeply moved


People avoid stopping for watermelon break even though it is hot and
dusty, because everyone realizes the hourglass is trickling down and this
is the chance for discovery


COME!


1. Wear full shoes, and hats. Water is available there all the time. It
is real work, digging, wheelbarrows, etc. There are open pits and
pickaxes in use so it is not for younger children this week. It is a full
dig with stratigraphy and careful work. There is shading over the main
work area.


2. Cost: 50 shekels each per day towards equipment and insurance


3. Insurance in place first- email me your ID number and name with the
words-digging with Prof Garfinkel at Elah Fortress îáöø äàìä on day x



4. M-Th. begin at 5:30am, coffee at 7am, breakfast at 9am, watermelon at
11 am, end between 1230-100. Tour follows on Thursday.


Next Sunday only-12 noon to 8pm.


Of course you can come for part of the time.


5. Notify me by SMS 0507526888 that you are coming so they will prepare a
place for you to dig and equipment


6. 7 minutes from Bet Shemesh, off of Tzomet Azekah; 4 minutes from
Tzomet HaElah. Call for directions


Okay I admit it, I should mention two more things.


1. There is a layer of 2300 Hellenistic fortifications lying on top.



2. Consider - 2900 years old, a full fortified city, whose period is
that, and what are the implications...


COME! SEVEN DAYS LEFT until next Tuesday!


Yours


Barnea Levi Selavan


Please feel free to forward this note to those who may appreciate it




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