BARlines

Dever To Write Popular Book on Gezer and To Undertake Emergency Preservation on Site

William G. Dever, the excavator of Gezer,¹ will write a popular book on the 11-year Gezer excavation, which lasted from 1964 to 1974. Dever is currently negotiating with Thomas Nelson Publishers for a book contract.

Nelson recently published Nahman Avigad’s popular account of his excavations in the Upper City of Jerusalem entitled Discovering Jerusalem and is currently discussing the publication of several other popular archaeological books by leading scholars. Nelson is thus emerging as the primary publisher in the United States of top-quality original archaeological books relating to the Bible.

“If I didn’t write it, somebody else might,” Dever told BAR in explanation of his decision to write the Gezer book. “And only the excavator can really tell the story,” he added. All predictions are that it will be a blockbuster of a book. The material is great, and Dever knows how to write.

“I won’t be able to start for at least a year and a half,” Dever said. But he was certain he would complete it.

Dever, who will be returning to Gezer this season for some check-up probes, will also undertake emergency preservation and conservation measures, especially of the Solomonic gate.