2025 Israel Roman Hippos

Location: 23, Giv'at Yo'av

Season: July 11, 2025 to July 31, 2025

Application Deadline: July 5, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.fieldsciences.org/program/2025-israel-hippos/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Center bfor Field Sciences (US) and University of Haifa (Israel)

Project Director:
Dr. Arleta Kowalewska, Hippos Excavations Project Co-Director and Research Fellow, The Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa & Dr. Michael Eisenberg, Hippos Excavations Project Co-Director, Professor of Classical Archaeology, University of Haifa

Project Description:

Hippos Excavations Project is one of Israel’s main long-running and exciting Classical Archaeology digs. As of the year 2000, our international team unearths various building complexes that allow a reconstruction of the ancient cityscape and a better understanding of public, military, private, and funerary architecture. The ancient Graeco-Roman city of Hippos of the Decapolis is located on a hill above the Sea of Galilee, with one of the most breathtaking panoramas in Israel. We study and reconstruct the way of life of its inhabitants in the various periods, from its foundation in the Hellenistic period (mid-2nd century BCE), through its Roman-period time of prosperity (64 BCE – mid-4th century CE), to the Christian transformation in the Byzantine period (mid-4th to mid-7th century CE) and other changes that happened after the Islamic takeover (mid-7th century CE to 749 CE earthquake). Perched on an isolated hill and devastated by an earthquake after which it was never rebuilt, Hippos is an ideal site for archaeologists to study the evolution of a city.

During the upcoming 2025 season, students will continue exploring a Roman-Byzantine period cardo and its surrounding insulae with its houses and mosaic floors, and the Byzantine-period cathedral.

For additional information regarding Hippos Excavations Project, see our website dighippos.com.

Period(s) of Occupation: Roman Period

Notes:
Tuition cost is $3,450; Program awards 6 semester credit units (equivalent to 9 quarter credits units) through our school of record – Culver-Stockton College

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full session

Minimum Age: 18 years old

Experience Required: None. This is hands-on, experiential learning and students will study on-site how to conduct archaeological research. Fieldwork involves physical work and exposure to the elements and thus requires a measure of understanding that this will not be the typical university learning environment. You will have to work outdoors and will get sweaty, dirty, and tired. Students are required to come equipped with sufficient excitement and adequate understanding that fieldwork requires real, hard work, in the sun and dust.

Room and Board Arrangements:
The expedition lodges in the hostel of kibbutz Ein Gev, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, about 5 min. drive from the site. The kibbutz is a 20-min drive from Tiberias and a 1.2-hr drive from Haifa. There are 2-4 occupants in each of the simple rooms and the facilities are shared. All rooms are air-conditioned and have wi-fi access. Linens and towels for indoor use are provided. Free of charge collective laundry service is available once a week. Three meals a day are provided: breakfast buffet in the field, lunch buffet in the kibbutz’s dining hall, and dinner (arranged according to the afternoon activities of the day). The meals are suitable for any diet type - there is always a variety of choices.

Academic Credit:
Program awards 6 semester credit units (equivalent to 9 quarter credits units) through our school of record – Culver-Stockton College.