Last night we went out to eat at a fish place. They serve fish from the Sea of Galilee. The restraunt was located in a sort of oasis, back in the trees and there was a creek that ran through the entire place. We sat outside in the cool night air (very comfortable) and ate many new things. For a beginning they serve pita and about 7 little bowls of different toppings. The fish was served whole which is not something that a few of the people were used to I think. We had a great time and sat and talked at the table for a few hours after dinner.
This morning we went back to the Tel and worked a little more on the graves. We did not get as far as we'd hoped and will have to go back tomorrow. The grave of the small child turned out ot have two other children (at least so far) in the grave. Greg thinks that perhaps they re-used the graves although this is not something that he's seen or heard of before.
We also worked on articulating an adult who seems to be in a very strange position. Tomorrow we hope to have pictures taken and then remove the bones and continue to work there.
Right now I appear to be locked in the office with no way out, I'm going to explore my possibilities and write more later. Having a great time! Much love...
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Independence Day
This morning we went to the sight and got some pictures before we began again to dig. I worked with the baby's grave, which turns out to be a toddler we think. And it was fine until I got to the skull and started clearing it off. I was very aware of what a precious thing that I was involved in. Someone lost their child, I kept thinking about Natania (my neice if you don't know) and I started crying. You don't realize it until you get into it that this will be an issue. We are participating in very important work here.
Three of the four adult graves are fully showing, as in the group has cleared them so that they are still in place, but you can see most of the skeleton and none of them bothered me until the toddler's profile began to emerge. Greg said I could take a break from it and I went to work with Brian on what seems to be a young woman (or man sometimes it's hard to tell).
We had a short day so not much else got done today but we are working tomorrow so that we can get the graves finished before the Arabic students come on Monday. I think I heard Greg say that they couldn't work with the deceased.
We came back and Mari and I laid in the shade and napped before lunch and then after lunch we swam in the pool for 3 hours, and by swim I mean we played different types of Horse and basketball for 3 hours. I feel a little water logged but it has been a good day.
For celebrating the 4th of July we are going out to eat in town, plus they don't feed us on the weekends so we have to eat somewhere. I am sad to say that there are no fireworks here for our independence day. Much love to you all...
Three of the four adult graves are fully showing, as in the group has cleared them so that they are still in place, but you can see most of the skeleton and none of them bothered me until the toddler's profile began to emerge. Greg said I could take a break from it and I went to work with Brian on what seems to be a young woman (or man sometimes it's hard to tell).
We had a short day so not much else got done today but we are working tomorrow so that we can get the graves finished before the Arabic students come on Monday. I think I heard Greg say that they couldn't work with the deceased.
We came back and Mari and I laid in the shade and napped before lunch and then after lunch we swam in the pool for 3 hours, and by swim I mean we played different types of Horse and basketball for 3 hours. I feel a little water logged but it has been a good day.
For celebrating the 4th of July we are going out to eat in town, plus they don't feed us on the weekends so we have to eat somewhere. I am sad to say that there are no fireworks here for our independence day. Much love to you all...
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Thursday first week
Well...today was a special day. We finished clearing off the floor with the pottery and then swept...yea we are learning the meaning of sweeping dirt...what a good time :) After we finished with this David (the leader of the dig) took us on a tour of the front gate and walked us through the entrance to Dan.
We pretended like we were pilgrims and walked through past 4 gates and many market stores (which would sell olive oil for the deity's honor, etc.) I am learning a great deal.
After this small tour of part of our site we went back to work and Greg, the supervisor of my section of digging put me in charge of the baby's grave. We are working through some old burials mostly adults and one very small grave. I feel as though he trusts my work. I have not yet come to bones but certainly will tomorrow.
The food I am eating here is very interesting. They eat things for breakfast that I wouldn't think of, like plates of vegetable and tuna fish sandwiches. For lunch and dinner we eat good things, always with a fruit as dessert and rice. There is always some kind of meat and many vegetables. I've become very open in order to maintain health and strength.
I'm having a good time, though it's tiring. Mom - don't worry I'll come back to Nimrod, we didn't get to see all of it because we had to get back for pottery washing.
Much love....
We pretended like we were pilgrims and walked through past 4 gates and many market stores (which would sell olive oil for the deity's honor, etc.) I am learning a great deal.
After this small tour of part of our site we went back to work and Greg, the supervisor of my section of digging put me in charge of the baby's grave. We are working through some old burials mostly adults and one very small grave. I feel as though he trusts my work. I have not yet come to bones but certainly will tomorrow.
The food I am eating here is very interesting. They eat things for breakfast that I wouldn't think of, like plates of vegetable and tuna fish sandwiches. For lunch and dinner we eat good things, always with a fruit as dessert and rice. There is always some kind of meat and many vegetables. I've become very open in order to maintain health and strength.
I'm having a good time, though it's tiring. Mom - don't worry I'll come back to Nimrod, we didn't get to see all of it because we had to get back for pottery washing.
Much love....
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Third Day
First note: When you leave a comment sign your name so that I know who you are.
Good news, the bead was found, a very good thing. They were all very excited about that, day two I found a bluish piece of glass...the leader of the dig said I must be good luck. I feel special. The rest of the day we worked on something that looks to be a floor, we found an almost intact lamp and have been leveling the ground to see what else might be on the floor there. It is long work but fun. I am enjoying myself and have made a few friends.
My roommate is from Norway and we get along very well. Today we went to Nimrod's castle and walked all the way through 9 towers and up so high that we could see for miles. We could see up to Mt. Hermon and all the way across to the Nephtali heights. It's lovely here, a little warm but not unbearable.
We keep very busy and I love the food. Things here are good. Also, if you have heard about Jerusalem in the nes do not be alarmed we are about 200 miles away.
Much love to you all...
Good news, the bead was found, a very good thing. They were all very excited about that, day two I found a bluish piece of glass...the leader of the dig said I must be good luck. I feel special. The rest of the day we worked on something that looks to be a floor, we found an almost intact lamp and have been leveling the ground to see what else might be on the floor there. It is long work but fun. I am enjoying myself and have made a few friends.
My roommate is from Norway and we get along very well. Today we went to Nimrod's castle and walked all the way through 9 towers and up so high that we could see for miles. We could see up to Mt. Hermon and all the way across to the Nephtali heights. It's lovely here, a little warm but not unbearable.
We keep very busy and I love the food. Things here are good. Also, if you have heard about Jerusalem in the nes do not be alarmed we are about 200 miles away.
Much love to you all...
Monday, June 30, 2008
First Day
First I need to say that our computer use is very limited. There is one computer for 40 persons. Needless to say I may not get to blog as much as I'd hoped to.
At any rate. After a very concerning start to the trip the flights and everything went well. I didn't sleep much on the plane and am still working things out with my body, which wants to be in bed right now at 4 in the afternoon. I got in safetly with a few minor bumps in planning, and I thought I had it all figured out.
Today I started at the dig after breakfast, since I got in at 2:45am. A normal day will have us digging from 5am-1pm with breakfast and fruit breaks. I love it already. Today was digging near some burial sites and found a bead...apparently a rare one from how excited the site leader was. He cleaned it off and had me looking for more (which I did not find). Then he put the bead in a labeled box which blew off the rock, we have not recovered the bead and proably will not.
It is time for me to go for now, we are going to clean and read pottery. Until later...
At any rate. After a very concerning start to the trip the flights and everything went well. I didn't sleep much on the plane and am still working things out with my body, which wants to be in bed right now at 4 in the afternoon. I got in safetly with a few minor bumps in planning, and I thought I had it all figured out.
Today I started at the dig after breakfast, since I got in at 2:45am. A normal day will have us digging from 5am-1pm with breakfast and fruit breaks. I love it already. Today was digging near some burial sites and found a bead...apparently a rare one from how excited the site leader was. He cleaned it off and had me looking for more (which I did not find). Then he put the bead in a labeled box which blew off the rock, we have not recovered the bead and proably will not.
It is time for me to go for now, we are going to clean and read pottery. Until later...
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