Jezreel Valley Regional Project Tell Abu Shusha Excavations

Location: Jezreel Valley, IL

Season: June 22, 2019 to July 19, 2019

Application Deadline: May 31, 2019

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://www.jezreelvalleyregionalproject.com

Program Type:
Field school, Volunteer

RPA Certified:
no

Affiliation:
W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research

Project Director:
Matthew J. Adams (W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research), Susan Cohen (Montana State University), and Yotam Tepper (Israel Antiquities Authority)

Project Description:

Tell Abu Shusha is the name given to a mysterious hill in the Jezreel Valley by the Ottoman era villagers who lived on its summit. Tantalizing historical and archaeological clues suggest that buried within are the remains of ancient Gaba Hippeon, a city founded by King Herod as a base for his cavalry forces. This garrison guarded the northern borders of Herod’s kingdom from the Phoenicians and secured one of the most important trade routes across the Levant, the Via Maris. In Herod’s day, part of this “Way of the Sea” helped connect the pagan Decapolis cities such as Beth Shean, Gadara, and Hippos to the massive port of Caesarea and from there into the Roman world. Gaba Hippeon was established to secure this lucrative trade network. But there’s more to Abu Shusha than Herod and Roman luxury trade… archaeological surveys indicate that the site may have guarded this pass thousands of years earlier…!

This summer, the Jezreel Valley Regional Project is breaking ground on a site that has never been excavated before. Volunteers of all ages and walks of life are welcome to join us for 1-4 weeks. No experience necessary! University credits are available for participants in the Archaeological Field School or Lecture courses.

Come join us to discover what ancient stories Abu Shusha has to tell!

Period(s) of Occupation: Bronze Age, Herodian Period (Roman), and Byzantine

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 1 Week

Experience Required: No experience necessary!

Room and Board Arrangements:
The team’s accommodations are located at Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek, down the road from the tell. Team members are usually housed 4 people to a room, and each room has a/c, a private bathroom and a kitchenette. The team will also have access to various kibbutz facilities, such as the swimming pool and the grocery store. Cost: $2115 for 4 weeks or $600 per week

Academic Credit:
3-6 Credits credits offered by University of Hawai'i. Tuition is $600 per 3 credits.