This program offers the opportunity for you to work alongside volunteers and a professional archaeological staff of 20 to excavate Ashkelon, one of the most important ancient seaports in Israel and in the eastern Mediterranean. In 2015, we will continue to uncover Ashkelon’s history from the Bronze Age through the Crusades.
Field training focuses on methods of stratigraphic excavation, recording, and interpretation, and the study of ceramic typology and its applications. Staff specialists hold workshops on surveying, photography, ceramics, geology, faunal analysis, GIS analysis, and conservation of artifacts. Fieldwork is complemented by a series of lectures by staff and visiting or guest scholars.
NELC S-198 Field School and Education Program for Ashkelon Excavations: The Leon Levy Expedition (32237)
This is an interdisciplinary course of archaeological fieldwork based in experiential learning. Rigorous hands-on participation is the defining aspect of the Ashkelon experience. The level of full participation in all site activities—an archaeological "boot camp"—sets this program apart from other dig experiences. Students work five full days plus a half day in the field uncovering artifacts and learning the skills necessary for all students and scholars interested in continuing active fieldwork or advanced studies in archaeology. The fieldwork aspect of the course is supported by lectures and workshops by resident staff and visiting/guest scholars on the archaeology, geography, and history of ancient Israel, Phoenicia, and Philistia. Three field trips to other archaeological sites in Israel help students in this course to contextualize the work being done at Ashkelon and broaden participants' understanding of Israel and archaeological work being conducted therein. Students will have several introductory readings to complete before they come to the field and can expect to leave with a deep understanding of method, theory, and history.
Course credit
See Study Abroad Credit Information.
Faculty
Additional instructional staff on site.
Faculty
Additional instructional staff on site.
Application
Before applying, review the Admission and Policies and FAQs pages.
You must be at least 18 years old and have completed at least one year of college or be a first-year student in good academic standing to apply.
The application materials, outlined below, are due January 28, 2016:
- A completed online application (available in early December) that includes:
- A $50 nonrefundable application fee
- A statement of interest in the program, including information on relevant coursework and travel experience abroad (previous travel is not a prerequisite)
- Transcripts (student record accepted for Harvard students)
Program directors may ask for interviews.
You will be notified of admission decisions by late February.
Cost
There is a nonrefundable $50 application fee. The program cost includes the following:
- Tuition
- Room and board
- Field trips
In addition to the program fee, you are responsible for:
- A health insurance fee (waived if you have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States)
- Transportation to and from Ashkelon
- Independent excursions
- The cost of passports and visas (if the latter is needed)
- Any immunizations
How to pay and funding options
See Payment and Funding for payment deadlines, deposit amounts, and more information, including funding options for Harvard College students.
Accommodations
You stay atTHE LEONARD HOTEL, a five-star seaside hotel, with transportation to and from the site provided. Breakfast is served in the field, while lunch and dinner are served in the hotel. Rooms accommodate three to four participants. See Leon Levy Expedition websitefor additional information.
Physical activity
You are expected to participate in strenuous field activity with interest, precision, vigor, and attentiveness. Experience is not necessary, but enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and the ability to get along well with diverse personalities under field conditions are important in this intensive program.
Specifically, you are expected to:
- Perform manual labor in extreme heat of up to 100 degrees F for up to eight hours a day (with breaks)
- Walk continuously for a half hour over uneven terrain
- Lift up to 20 pounds
- Climb up and down stairs and navigate in and out of deep dig sites without assistance
Additional information
Contact Ashkelon Excavations, info@digashkelon.com, (617) 495-9385. Also see the Leon Levy Expedition website.
Watch this video with Adam Aja displaying the artifacts found during the 2013 archaeological session in Ashkelon.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.summer.harvard.edu/programs/study-abroad/ashkelon-israel