Jason (Jay) Weimar, an M.A. student in Archaeology, spent his summer in Isreal participating in a four week archaeological dig at Tel Abel Beth Maacah with support by the Kroll Travel Award from the Department of Near Eastern Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences.
"There, I learned how to excavate, networked with various scholars in my field, and explored the intersection between Biblical texts and material culture," Weimar says of his experience. "A particularly interesting moment was when the ground gave way under me while I was digging. My leg slipped into an underlying porcupine hole, which soon revealed two deer antlers from 3,000 years ago. In addition to excavating, I was also able to tour archaeological sites and descend down Ahab’s cistern at Hazor, stand outside the Gates of Hell at Banias, and snap photos of the place where Jeroboam’s infamous golden calf may have resided. I learned and experienced many things during my stay in Israel and am deeply appreciative of Kroll for providing me this opportunity."
Jay has served as a Teaching Assistant for the Department and we are incredibly thankful for his efforts and congratulate him on a rewarding summer abroad.
