Today Area F section 26 kept shelling out the surprises! David was working at digging down to a new level..just inches at a time, when he found a 4 inch flint blade...again rare and exciting. I continued to dig where I uncovered the "donut" and the lamp and bowl...the "donut" had been removed so I continued to slowly and methodically use my trowel and brush to uncover and clean the area. Cleaning everything is such an important procedure as everything is documented by photography and the area must be clean. As I continued to widen the area, finding more pieces of the pot and lamp and the paving stone I was using the brush and exposed my own 4 inch flint blade about 3 feet from where David found him...unheard of! Rare to find one but two in Area F...exciting! After much more clean up and sifting every bucket of dirt it was ready for pictures. It was a fun day to be in Israel, to be at Tel Es-Safi and to be part of the team that really enjoys working and being together...I am so blessed to have this educational experience.
   At 2:30 p.m. we took the bus to Jerusalem. When we arrived Eric and some others decided to walk to the Austrian Hostel. At the market street we split and Eric and I kept walking...it was a great day to walk. We stopped for Falafels which are usually served in Pita bread and on the inside has these smashed up chick pea balls, add hummas, and all sorts of veggies...I chose onions and a variety of salad type veggies...I chose not to have the hot and spicy variety and topped it off with an ice tea. We sat outside and enjoyed our meal.        We entered the Old City through the Jaffa Gate. As we approached Zak's, Eric mentioned that he may be on vacation and his shop would not be opened...however he was still there...very nice to see him and a few shops down Shabaan's shop was open. Zak said that he had to close at 7 so he and his family could go on vacation...we hurried to the Austrian took a much needed shower and at 6 we were back at Zaks antiquities shop. Didn't take long to get my Christmas shopping done...don't worry Lynda I got a good deal on everything!  At Shabaan's I got stuffed lamb's for Bennett and Dex and a sling for me...just add rocks...should be fun!
   About 7:43 p.m. the canon sounded ending the Ramadan fast for the day, then at 8ish p.m. Shabbat began at the Western Wall. About 10 of us walked there to observe and partake in Shabbat observances. As we arrived at the Western Wall area we had to go through security and when we arrived at the actually area, men went on one side, women on the other. The men are required to wear a head covering and there are Kippah available...I could have kept my Bt  

   Playing some catch up here while in Jerusalem...been a very exciting time here at the dig...could be some huge historic developments that sweat and time will determine. Last post I mentioned this discovery in Area D...the lower city. Here is the news from the official blog:  
Breaking news: The Gigantic Gate of Gath?JULY 8, 2015 / ARENMAEIR / 4 COMMENTS
Breaking news:

The absolutely unbelievable, fantastic, astounding, and in general, quite special news coming from the dig today is that just to the east of the new fortification wall which I noted yesterday (in Area D), it appears that we may have located a monumental city gate of the lower city of Gath! We still have to do a lot of cleaning, defining, digging and measuring to do (to really make sure about this), but it appears that there are really good chances we have truly landed on quite an astounding find!

Woohoo!

   Why is so important you might be thinking...proof that what scripture says is true. In 1 Samuel 21 we read this:  

"That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: "'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?" David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard." (1 Samuel 21:10-13, NIV)
   
   Those in charge are looking at this as being the single biggest find in decades and may become the focal point for the Tel Es-Safi dig for years to come. I've seen the sight twice now and you can see the tops of the wall structure sticking out of the ground...this next week there will be some initial digging during the afternoon...I hope to be a part of that group at least for one afternoon.


    As for Area F things are also very exciting as Dr Maeir wrote: In Area F, the pre-fortification phases are being exposed in two areas – and things are looking very interesting. Two LB rooms are being excavated – and both have some really nice finds!


   One of those areas is section 26...my area...as we continued to dig toward the Late Bronze 1550-1200--BCE we found some really nice pottery pieces...all on the same level. On that level we found several areas....in the section of our square that I'm working on I uncovered a stone "donut" about 5 inches in diameter near some pots and lamp parts (which hopefully will be restored). Only a few of these "donuts" have been found in the area, they are not sure exactly how they were used, perhaps as a weight for weaving? These items, the "donut" and pottery are on top of a paving stone, which is very interesting. Next, my section partner David and Jonathan also uncovered exciting stuff. David uncovered a bronze tipped arrow head...and very rare. Jonathan uncovered the jaw bone of a goat and either a rounded stone about the size of a baseball that was either a pounder (used to smash as a hammer) or a sling stone...again very exciting to find all this on one level on the section. For me this is a continuation of last year...Dr. Mark Jenkins and I cut down some 6-8 feet to this level...we may not have found anything remarkable last year, but treasures are being uncovered. 
   I am so glad to be here and to be apart of all the excitement that is going on..last year it was rockets...this year some really exiting archaeology is taking place. 

Shalom! Day two started like every other day...up at 4:30 (actually I got up at 3ish...will be glad when the Jet Lag wears off) and the bus leaves at 5. Today in my section we dug down a bit deeper and found some really cool pieces of pottery...I found part of a lamp and some bottom of small jars....next to me was found a small rock that was blue in color, presumably because of being in a fire..there is lots of ash and the assumption is that we may be in cooking area.  All the soil that we are digging needs to be sifted to make sure we don't miss smaller items....another area below us found a blue bead and an earring as the result of sifting the soil.
   For the second day I rode back with Dr Jeff Chadwick and Dr. Eric Welsh and we stopped in area D to examine their finds over the last couple of days...can't say anymore about this until it is officially released...amazing stuff! Area D sits below Tel Es-Safi right along the Valley of Elah, of David and Goliath fame. From the dried up river bed I was able to find 5 smooth stones...will make a nice display in my office, maybe I'll pick up a sling in the Old City of Jerusalem this weekend. 
   When we got back we had lunch then showered and washed clothes and send the afternoon watching as our Area F supervisors examined pottery shards...they determine what is worthy of keeping and which are tossed away. 
   I did get in a much needed nap before supper...salad and tuna again....lol!
   Sitting here in the cool of the evening I'm reminded how blessed I am to be here again this year. I have so enjoyed my times in Israel and it does cause me to reflect on my faith and the need to grow closer to Christ day in and day out...Shalom...until tomorrow.

   Shalom...Greetings from sunny, hot and relatively safe and quite Israel! Had two uneventful flight from Kansas City to Newark, NJ and a enjoyable 10 hour flight to Tel Aviv..from there going through security was painless, got my luggage, hopped a Taxi (240 NIS or about $63). Made it to Kibbutz Revidim, where I will call home the next 10 days...got settled in, met my other 4 roommates and made it in time for supper. Guess what I had spaghetti, salad and TUNA. I will have the opportunity eat Tuna, morning, noon and night...yep...Tuna.
   After supper...jet lag really set in...unpacked, showered and was asleep by 9...and just as I'll have Tuna...I was awake around 2:30 a.m. (for you in CDT we are 8 hours ahead of you). Sleep evaded me until the alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. then it's up and get ready to get on the bus which leaves at 5:15 a.m. Mornings at Tel Es-Safi/Gath are wonderful...the sun is coming up and its cool and it hit me...I'm back! The long walk up to the first level was easier this year...lets see, I'm 30 pounds lighter than last year and the past several weeks of bike riding really helped...thanks Billie Neice for your encouragement! The walk to Area F near the top of the Tell was fun and exciting what God was going to teach me this year!
   Since I a day late arriving I was thrust into new work in the area I worked in last year Section 26...This year we are just working on the lower area of F and are in search for more EB (Early Bronze  3330-3050 BCE) to MB (Middle Bronze 3330-1200 BCE) Should be interesting in 26 and to see what the other areas uncover.
   Breakfast was at 9:00 a.m. with the mile walk down and back and we concluded the day around 12:45 p.m. Lunch was when we got back and as the usual pottery was the norm in the afternoon followed by shower, washing my dirty work clothes and a quick nap. Supper is soon...7 p.m. followed by a lecture, then sleep...get behind me Jet Lag! Hey...two guys on our F group are from Minnesota and are awesome MN sports fans...YES! That's all for now...we will see what tomorrow brings...Shalom!