Wesleyan-at-Ashkelon Archaeological Field School
Program Syllabus
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The Ashkelon Archaeological Field School is a fast-paced, intensive and multifaceted experience,
providing a blend of hands-on archaeological training and classroom instruction. Most of the
Wesleyan group will be working with Professor Birney in Grid 51, which is a neighborhood of
residences and shops just inside the ancient city wall. Our work this year will focus upon the
earliest Persian period levels (5th-4th century B.C.) to better understand the lives of the citizens
of Ashkelon as the city came under Phoenician control during the Persian period, and also to
expose part of the Babylonian destruction of the city in 604 B.C. Whether participating in a halfor a full season, each student will spend the time on-site fully immersed in the archaeology of
ancient Israel. The summer time commitment is 10-11 hours a day, 6 days a week.
For students taking Wesleyan credit, the Ashkelon Field School has two parts:
(A) the on-site field research component in Israel over the summer (June 6 – July 17), and
(B) a complementary tutorial to be taken in the fall (ARCP 401). While the summer field school
focuses on archaeological methods and technologies, the fall tutorial is for in-depth analysis of
the data accumulated over the summer. During the tutorial students conduct detailed research
on an artifact, site area, or concept they encounter during excavation, drawing upon resources
that are unavailable to them in the field. The paired program thus ensures that students
experience the full arc of archaeological research, and travel the scholarly path from excavation
to publication. Only students participating in the full 6-week excavation season AND the tutorial
can receive Wesleyan credit.
Summer Course Objectives:
Through their in-field work, each student will acquire an archaeological “toolkit”; the essentials
necessary for all students and scholars interested in continuing active fieldwork or advanced
studies in Mediterranean archaeology.
This “toolkit” will include:
--a basic grounding in archaeological excavation techniques and theoretical concerns
--working knowledge of some of the technologies applied to archaeological problems
--familiarity with the material culture (pottery and artifacts) of several historical periods
--an understanding of the historical context of the site of Ashkelon and ancient Israel
(A) The Summer Archaeological Field School - Design and Requirements:
The summer program has three components: fieldwork, classroom time, and weekly discussion
meetings. Collectively these are intended to provide a background both in archaeological
techniques and the history of Israel and the ancient Mediterranean. Participation in each of
these components is required for all Wesleyan volunteers, regardless of whether they are
participating to receive credit.
 In the field:
Students participate in daily excavation, receiving instruction in basic archaeological
techniques and concepts, and working alongside scholars and specialists engaging in active
research. Archaeological technologies will be introduced in a series of special workshops
sessions. In the afternoons, students participate in ceramic and artifact processing at the
Pottery Compound (washing, “reading” pottery, organizing materials for analysis and
publication).
Fieldwork is often strenuous, so prepare to be physically, as well as intellectually
challenged. Enthusiastic participation is essential!
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 In the classroom:
Evening lectures (delivered by resident specialists or visiting scholars) present the history of
Ashkelon and ancient Israel in the context of the broader Mediterranean, or address special
topics of historical interest. These lectures will be supplemented by field trips to sites of
historical and archaeological importance in Southern Israel.
 Weekly Discussion Meetings
Weekly Discussion Sections focus upon the interpretation of archaeological data, introducing
principles of archaeological theory and examining how these can be used to answer
questions about ancient life at Ashkelon. This is also a forum where students will discuss the
work they have been doing that week, and have a chance to articulate how their digging has
contributed to the broader research goals of their square or area.
Each week, students should come to the discussion meeting with a brief summary of one
archaeological problem encountered in the square, the techniques employed to solve that
problem, and the result.
Sample Summary: “We didn’t know whether the patchy plaster surface Unit A in the northwest
corner was specifically related to Wall B. We tried tracing it but it faded as it approached the wall,
so we cut a 10x 10 cm probe. This showed a foundation trench for wall B, which clearly cuts a
visible patch of Unit A. Therefore, we know that wall B is later than surface Unit A”.
As a means of summarizing these experiences, throughout the summer students will also be
making a series of six brief (2 min) podcasts, on subjects to be determined while on-site.
(B) ARCP or CCIV 401 – The Fall Tutorial Design and Requirements
The fall tutorial is based around a research project of the student’s own design, at the end of
which the student produces a short research paper. The project is a focused and detailed
analysis of an artifact, an architectural element, an historical or theoretical question
encountered by the student during the course of summer excavation. Some examples of actual
projects include:
 analysis of a Dionysian scene on a newly-discovered piece of Attic Red Figure pottery
 study of an assemblage of 5th-4th century balance weights and their significance for
understanding economic relationships at the site
 a comparison between Persian period arrow and blade heads recovered from Grid 51 with
scenes from the Assyrian Lachish reliefs
Preparation of these projects offer students the opportunity to participates in all aspects of the
archaeological process, from discovery to publication.
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Daily Schedule Overview
Sunday through Friday:
4:40 am
5:00 am
9:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
1:45 – 4:00 pm
4:00 – 6:00 pm
6:15 – 7:00 pm
7:00 pm
First Breakfast (light fare) at the hotel
Excavation on site (5:00 bus from hotel to site)
Second Breakfast
Break
Return to hotel, Lunch at Dan Gardens Hotel
Siesta! (free time)
Pottery/Artifact Processing (Sun-Thurs)
Lectures/Workshops (see schedule below)
Dinner at the hotel
Note: Fridays we dig until 1pm; there are no afternoon or evening events on Fridays.
Weekend Break: Friday 1pm – Saturday night. Free time except for the scheduled field trips.
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SUMMER FIELD SCHOOL PROGRAM & LECTURE SCHEDULE (subject to change)
PC = Pottery Compound
WEEK 1: Orientation and Overview
6
Sat
7
Sun 4:30 AM
3 PM
8
Mon 6:15 PM
9
Tues 3:00 PM
6:15 PM
10
Wed 7:30 AM
1 PM on
11
Thurs 6:15 PM
12
13
Friday 6:30 AM
Sat
In Grid Lessons:
(June 6-13)
Arrival and Check in to Leonardo Hotel, Ashkelon
Begin weekly excavation schedule
Welcome and Orientation to Ashkelon, D. Master and Aja
History and Archaeology of Ashkelon 1, D. Master
Wesleyan Discussion Section
History and Archaeology of Ashkelon 2, T. Hoffman
Workshop Day: Archaeological Technologies and Site Tours
FREE
Introduction to the Geography of Israel and Jerusalem,
D. Master and J. Walton
Field Trip: Jerusalem; (Weekend begins)
FREE
(1) Grid orientation: grid and square lines
(2) Tool use/safety, collection practices; Using the total station
WEEK 2: Field Archaeology (June 14-20)
14
Sun 4:30 AM
Resume excavation schedule
15
Mon 6:15 PM
Stratigraphy and Field Excavation, A. Aja
16
Tues 6:15 PM
Bronze & Iron Age Pottery, Master/Stager (in PC)
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WEEK 2, Field Archaeology (cont’d)
17
Wed 3:00 PM
Wesleyan Discussion Section
6:15 PM
Archaeological Science, B. Alex
18
Thurs 6:15 PM
Hellenistic through Islamic Pottery
(Birney/Walton/Hoffman in PC)
19
Fri
1 PM
Weekend begins
20
Sat
FREE
In Grid Lessons:
(1) Pottery and material culture recording
(2) Pottery in your area (finer points, dating, function)
WEEK 3: Early Historic Periods (June 21-27)
21
Sun 4:30 AM
Resume excavation schedule
6:15 PM
The Bronze Ages, L. Stager/Master
22
Mon 6:15 PM
Egypt and the Levant, M. Adams
23
Tues 2:30 PM
Field Trip: Azekah & Lachish
24
Wed 12 AM
Tel Tour
3:00 PM
Wesleyan Discussion Section
6:15 PM
The End of the Bronze Age & the Rise of Philistia, A. Aja
25
Thurs 6:15 PM
Iron Age II and Assyria
26
Fri
1 PM
Weekend begins
27
Sat
FREE
In Grid Lessons:
(1) Video summaries of stratigraphic problems
(2) Taking field notes/observing relationships.
WEEK 4: Late Historic Periods (June 28-July 4)
28
Sun 4:30 AM
Resume excavation schedule
6:15 PM
Persian Period Ashkelon, K. Birney
29
Mon 6:15 PM
FREE
30
Tues 6:15 PM
Hellenistic Ashkelon, K. Birney
1
Wed 3:00 PM
Wesleyan Discussion Section
6:15 PM
Roman Period Ashkelon, S. Ehrlich
2
Thurs 6:15 PM
The Rise of Islam and Cities of the Levant, T. Hoffman
3
Fri
7 AM
Weekend begins. Field Trip: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran
4
Sat
FREE
In Grid Lessons:
For new volunteers
For continuing volunteers:
(1) Grid orientation: grid and square lines
(2) Tools & Safety
(1) OCHRE practice
WEEK 5: Featured Studies 1 (July 5-11)
5
Sun 4:30 AM
Resume excavation schedule
6:15 PM
A Tale of Two Kingdoms, L. Stager
6
Mon 6:15 PM
Athenian Pottery, B. Martin
7
Tues 6:15 PM
Season’s Progress, D. Master
Evening Reception
8
Wed 3:00 PM
Wesleyan Discussion Section
6:15 PM
Zooarchaeology, P. Wapnish and D. Fulton
9
Thurs 6:15 PM
Spatial Technology at Ashkelon, E. Laugier
10
Fri
1 PM
Weekend begins
11
Sat
FREE
In Grid Lessons:
(1)
(2)
Introduction to the Matrix
Section Drawing
WEEK 6: Featured Studies 2 (July 12-18)
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Sun
4:30 AM
6:15 PM
Mon 6:15
Tues 6:15 PM
Wed 3:00 PM
6:15 PM
Thurs 6:15 PM
Fri
4:30 AM
Sat
In Grid Lessons:
(1)
Resume excavation schedule
Burial Practice and Identity, S. Fox
Philistines and the Book of Samuel, J. Wylie
Art and Empire, L. Wright
Final Discussion Section
Lecture TBD
2015 Season Overview Festivities/Reception
Final Field Photos and Closing Up
Departure for Home!
Field Summaries