Sifting Through the Sands of Time with the “Jewish Indiana Jones”
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120 ROCHELLE’S REVIEWS By Rochelle Miller SIFTING THROUGH THE SANDS OF TIME WITH THE April 12, 2019 • 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES JEWISH TOWNS 2019 • 5 April 12, “JEWISH INDIANA JONES” ften mentioned in the Torah, the biblical city of Gath was one Oof the fi ve Philistine city-states established in northwestern Philistia. Referred to as “Gath of the Philistines,” it is said to be the home of Goliath and near the location where a blinded Shim- shon knocked down the temple pillars. A treasure trove of fascinating biblical and other artifacts that beckon to be un- earthed, Gath’s existence is confi rmed by ancient Egyptian inscriptions. Today, the city’s ruins can be found inside Tel Zafi t, an Israeli national park, Following his service in the Israel he receives wedding invitations from where it has become a major archaeo- Defense Forces—where he reached the members of his team, past and present, logical site. Since 1996, Aren Maeir, pro- rank of captain—he pursued his under- is indicative of the affi nity and respect fessor of archaeology at Bar Ilan Uni- graduate and graduate studies at the He- with which he is regarded. versity, has been the director of the Tell brew University in Jerusalem, and did a Professor Maeir extends a warm in- es-Safi /Gath excavation. Among the post-doctorate at the Ribner Institute vitation to our readers to participate on remarkable fi ndings dug up by Profes- for the History of Science and Technol- an excavation. “It’s a wonderful oppor- sor Maeir and his team are a Philistine ogy at MIT. Professor Maeir has been tunity for anyone—particularly young Temple, the remains of a Crusader-era amiable archaeologist explains. “It’s teaching at Bar Ilan University since adults—to learn about and experience castle, and myriad ritual items dating hard out there in the sun; getting out 1992. He and his lovely wife, Adina, are fi rsthand the history, culture, and beau- back to the Iron Age. in the summer and running an excava- the parents of three sons. ty of our land in sites we learn about that Professor Maeir’s archaeological tion dig with 100 people is harder than Over the past two decades, Professor are mentioned in the Torah.” Addition- expertise has earned him the nick- anything I ever did in the army. So you Maeir has witnessed how advances in ally, Professor Maeir is off ering an ex- name of “Israel’s Indiana Jones.” Pri- have a lot of fun. The constant feeling of technology have impacted his profes- traordinary online course in archaeolo- or to Gath, he directed excavations turning over a shovel and knowing there sion, greatly facilitating the alacrity and gy through Bar Ilan. and surveys in Israel, including Je- could be something new and unexpect- accuracy of obtaining results on-site. To learn more about how you can help rusalem, Hazor, Yoqneam, Tel Qasile, ed always tickles me, and the fi nds are “Today we have fi eld labs on our exca- support Aren Maeir’s historic excava- and Beth-Shean. He has authored exhilarating.” vation site that allow us to get testing tion in Israel, please contact American more than 100 scholarly articles on Friends of Bar Ilan University at 212- archaeology as well as several books. 906-3900 or visit AFBIU.org. Please Moreover, his blog gets hundreds of “We use what we visit Professor Maeir’s website at gath. hits each day from people who are cu- wordpress.com for updates about his ar- rious about the secrets unraveled by fi nd to enhance our chaeological projects. archaeology, particularly in Israel, a region rich in archaeological sites. A Rochelle Maruch Miller is a contributing world-renowned scholar, he has un- understanding of the past.” editor for the Five Towns Jewish Times. She is a journalist, creative media consultant, earthed a remarkable collection of an- lecturer, and educator, and writes for cient pottery and other artifacts dat- magazines, newspapers, websites, and private ing back 3,000 years, many of which Professor Meir said the volunteers results almost immediately,” he shares. clients. She welcomes your comments at are on exhibit in his department of aren’t there to prove or disprove the To- “The initial data that we can collect on [email protected]. Read more of Land of Israel Studies at Bar Ilan. rah. things such as stones and pottery, or Rochelle Miller’s articles at 5TJT.com. The many people who come to volun- “We use what we fi nd to enhance our the micro data such as DNA and Car- teer on his excavations include novices, understanding of the past,” he said. “The bon-14, is nothing short of miraculous. more experienced students, and individ- fact that we found a gate doesn’t prove It allows us to get a rich and immediate uals in various related fi elds. Calling it a David came to this gate, but it adds color reconstruction of daily life from [long] Visit “multi-disciplinary eff ort,” Professor and context to the story and teaches us ago, which we upload into the cloud to Maeir shares, “We have had volunteers how people lived at that time. It appears form an instant digital archive.” More- from Canada, the U.S., England, France, that the ancient Israelites and Philis- over, he says it is almost as though the 5TJT.com for Spain, Italy, Greece, Africa, Australia, tines were in contact. Although they profession he studied some 30 years ago New Zealand, and Korea. It’s a multina- sometimes fought each other, they also “is practically a diff erent vocation from tional, interreligious experience.” traded with each other and, in some cas- what we are doing now.” daily halachic Part of the attraction is the possibil- es, intermarried.” Much like the fi ctional archaeolo- ity of unearthing a signifi cant artifact. Born in Rochester, New York, Aren gy professor Indiana Jones, Professor “Sometimes the greenest volunteer ex- Maeir moved to Israel in 1969 at the Maeir views his profession as a labor commentary on cavates the greatest fi nd,” says Profes- age of 11, and has lived there ever since. of love—it is a passion he shares with sor Maeir. “It’s a matter of who struck Already at a tender age, he exhibited a every one of his students and with each the trowel in the dirt.” robust zest for the great outdoors and member of his team. Whereas most current events But even those who don’t strike pay discovering the unexpected. Relocating excavations continue for six to eight dirt enjoy themselves despite the long to Jerusalem aff orded his parents many weeks, each of his excavations is a four- by Rabbi Yair hours of heat and physical labor. “Since opportunities to take young Aren to ar- week experience. Additionally, he will we started, not a single person ever said chaeology and excavation sites, igniting make every eff ort to form a team that he or she didn’t have a good time.” the intelligent and inquisitive young- is friendly and non-competitive. He Hoffman “There’s no reason to do archaeolo- ster’s passion to uncover the secrets of feels the shorter time period promotes gy if you’re not having a good time,” the the sand. camaraderie and avoids confl ict. That .