Week 6 has come & gone, which completes the 2006 excavation season.  Work continued on a part time basis in the wine cellar in area "C".  More fragments of Hellenistic pottery were found & the cellar was left to be completely dug out by one of the energetic groups that will come next year.

Prof. Green's group excavated more of the pit on the west side of their Hellenistic/Roman area.  Its not clear why our forefathers dug this particular pit.  They uncovered the top of a  ~2 meter thick wall, running east/west, certainly appearing to be iron age (see pic on left below - west is upwards).  On the next to last day, a magnificent jar, probably late iron age, was found west of the city gate chambers.  Its ~ 30 cm. high, ~ 25 cm. in diameter, with a neck of ~ 10 cm. in diameter (see pics below).  It was broken into a number of pieces, but the top portion came out in one piece with only a small piece of the neck missing.  As so many pieces were found it looks like a good candidate for restoration.

Work continued in chamber 3, where the top of an iron age wall appeared.  It runs north/south & looks like it's a continuation of the 2 meter thick wall previously uncovered in chamber 1. 

The picture on the right shows Maha & Rami collapsing a wall of destruction debris.  This is just north of the main city gate and is the debris sitting on top of the 8th, 9th and 10th century BCE iron age cities.  It's planned to remove this debris in order to find the ancient outer city wall which probably extends 4 meters to the east (behind) where Rami is standing.

I believe that I speak for all of the volunteers when I state that it has been a pleasure to work with such a competent and pleasant staff of Professors Arav, McNamer, Roddy, Green, and Gale with the assistance of Steve Reynolds , Maha Darawsha and Christine the photographer.  Much important work was accomplished and much was left for future seasons of excavations.  Reams of data were recorded for Rami to mull over while sitting at his desk this winter at UNO.  Good luck Rami.  With that I bid a fond adieu until next year.

All errors and omissions are mine.  Shai Schwartz 3 July 2006.

                       Pictures can be enlarged by going to the photo gallery & clicking the desired picture.            

                        Note : Interesting archaeology blog - http://archaeologydigs.blogspot.com/