BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Get to Know Tell es-Safi/Gath Excavator Aren Maeir

Bible and archaeology news

In a recent profile featured in the online news magazine ISRAEL21c, archaeologist and Tell es-Safi/Gath excavator Aren Maeir gives his view of why the Tell es-Safi dig,* which is entering its 16th season this summer, has been so successful. “There’s no reason to do archaeology if you’re not having a good time,” says Maeir. “It’s hard out there in the sun, getting up early in the summer and running an excavation with 100 people. So you have to have a lot of fun.” Maeir says it’s also important to limit the time a project is in the field: “I try to form a team where everybody is friendly and non-competitive. After four weeks I’m not having fun anymore, and the team members start getting on each other’s nerves.” It is this excavation strategy, perhaps, that has led to the discovery of some impressive archaeological finds, including the earliest deciphered Philistine inscription and, most recently, an early two-horned Philistine altar.

In a recent profile featured in the online news magazine ISRAEL21c, archaeologist and Tell es-Safi/Gath excavator Aren Maeir gives his view of why the Tell es-Safi dig, which is entering its 16th season this summer, has been so successful.