Tel Abel Beth Maacah Archaeology Project, Israel – Institute for Field Research

Location: , US

Season: June 28, 2020 to July 24, 2020

Application Deadline: April 3, 2020

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://ifrglobal.org/program/israel-abel-beth-maacah/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Institute for Field Research, Connecticut College, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Azusa Pacific University

Project Director:
Dr. Naama Yahalom-Mack, Dr. Nava Panitz-Cohen, Prof. Robert Mullins

Project Description:

Tel Abel Beth Maacah is a large multi-layered site in the Upper Galilee of Israel, strategically located at the intersection of ancient routes connecting Israel, Lebanon (Phoenicia) and Syria (Aram). The site appears in second millennium BCE Egyptian sources, in the Bible as loyal to King David in the 10^th century BCE, and conquered by the Arameans and Neo-Assyrians in the 9^th and 8^th centuries BCE. Six seasons of excavation have revealed remains from the Middle Bronze, Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Of particular interest is the intensive Iron Age I-IIA occupation and intriguing traces of cultic activity. A rich assemblage of  finds, some of them unique, shed important new light on the interaction between  Israelites, Arameans and Phoenicians in this border zone. To learn more, go to the Abel Beth Maacha project website.

Period(s) of Occupation: Bronze-Iron Age

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Participants must stay entire duration of the field school.

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: No prior experience is required to participate in this field school.

Room and Board Arrangements:
Students will live in comfortable and clean housing at Kibbutz Kfar Szold in the Hula Valley, a 15 minute ride from the tell and from the town of Kiryat Shemonah. Air-conditioned rooms accommodate three or four people and include an equipped kitchenette and a bathroom with a shower. Each room has a porch that opens to a communal lawn. Linens and towels are provided. Rooms are cleaned twice a week. Free Wi-Fi is available in the rooms. The kibbutz has a spring, a pool and a convenience store. All meals are communal events and will provide plenty of nutritious food in the tradition of local Israeli cuisine, heavy on fresh fruits and vegetables, and may include hummus, tehina, falafel, and other local specialties, alongside the usual staples of chicken, meat, and fish. A rich breakfast buffet is served in the field during the week. Lunch and dinner take place in the kibbutz dining room. All meals on the weekend are in the kibbutz dining room. Bread, jam, and peanut butter are provided during the week to prepare an early-morning snack in your room. The food is kosher. We can accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan diets.

Academic Credit:
8 Semester Credits credits offered by Connecticut College. Tuition is $4,720.