Archaeology of the Near East

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Comment by Nicolae Roddy on July 27, 2009 at 7:45pm

I welcome all recent members to this group and apologize for not having been as active in moderating as I would like! Please feel free to use this forum in any civil and appropriate way you see fit. By the way, the dates for my next expedition to Bethsaida are June 13-July 5, 2010. Let me know if you are interested and I'll add your email to the listserv for information!

Comment by barnea levi selavan on July 13, 2009 at 3:01pm

Belinda,

Unfortunately the Israeli government is used to being blackballed, and passport controls asks if you want to stamp a separate piece of paper instead of your passport. Check out our dig- www.elahfortress.com. The Gezer team just came yesterday to visit our site.

Comment by Belinda Hutton on February 23, 2009 at 12:47am

Hi!
I note that there are some interesting digs on the go in Israel from June to October this year. Is anyone planning to venture out there? I would love to go, but need to secure a second passport (the British Embassy here allows it from time to time) - the reason is that I wont be allowed back into Saudi with an Israeli stamp in my existing passport - go figure!
I find the Tel Gezer project the most interesting:
Middle Bronze Age fortifications, underground water system, Solomonic Gate and casemate fortifications, Gezer Calander, cuneiform tablets, Hellenistic & Macabean occupation

Let me know what your plans are, Im going to also try to get onto a dig site in Jordan or Syria (not the safest of places either, but helluva interesting!)
Cheers
Bee

Comment by Belinda Hutton on February 22, 2009 at 2:54am

Hi all!
Just wanted to quickly introduce myself! Im living in the Middle East at the moment (spent 3 years in Saudi Arabia and now am in Bahrain). There are some interesting sites on the go here - and for Bahrain, they are at least being more open to archaeology and preservation of their heritage. There are two specific sites of interest, Barbar temple and Sar Temple - both which worshipped the Enki god of water around 4th Millenium BC. This area saw a turnaround of cultures - from Syria, phoenicians, greeks, etc etc. When I was in Saudi Arabia, I had the opportunity to see some rock art dating to also around the same time. Unfortunately heritage is not at the forefront whatsoever there and much of the rock art is vandalised - a sad site to see....
Anyway, if anyone is interested on the happenings on this side of the world, give me a shout and I will keep you updated!
Cheers
Belinda

Comment by JB on February 18, 2009 at 7:20pm

My apologies for not replying to your question sooner Diane! I have not been here in a while unfortunately :( But to answer you question I chose to study about Israel, and other middle eastern countries, because I am religious and come from a very religious family... where could you possibly get a better understanding of it then Israel? I was really attracted to Israel because of all the numerous digs that are there. The history behind it is amazing to me. I get shivers thinking that I could be standing where Jesus stood some 2,000 years ago. ( I am not there yet by the way, still in Texas LOL)

Comment by Alan Kirkland on July 4, 2008 at 12:02pm

While I primarily work in the United States currently, I have done work in the Near East, and would like to do more. My focus is on Old Kingdom Egypt, but span up to the beginning of the Second Intermediate Period. Always interested in what other colleagues are doing in this region.
My influence was Petrie, closely followed by Leonard Wooley.

Comment by Diane Thoumie on June 16, 2008 at 3:33am

It may seems incredibly childish, but I want to study the Near-East because all of the professors who have been teaching me anything concerning this area were just geniuses. They really made me want to work on it. It's that simple ^^
Good luck on your researches on Israel - may I ask in return why you're interested in this country ?

Comment by JB on June 14, 2008 at 4:45pm

I was just curious why you chose to focus on archaeology of the near east as you major focus in your career while there are so many other places out there? Was it a hard choice? I'm really trying to learn a little bit about the history of places like Israel so I thought I'd ask you why you decided to learn about it. Thanks. :)