Inside BAR

The Persian Gulf War seems to have produced one last, belated explosion: an explosion of excavations in Israel and Jordan that seek volunteers for the upcoming season. Some digs that would normally have spent this year analyzing last year’s finds are instead taking to the field because they were forced to cancel last year’s season. The 1992 installment of BAR’s annual survey, “1992 Excavation Opportunities: A Spirit of Discovery,” presents a record number of digs—38 at 35 sites—one-third more than our previous high (28 in 1989). Although participation last year generally declined by about one-fourth to one-third, excavation directors expect a full complement of volunteer workers now that conditions have returned to normal.

The increase in sites means that volunteers have greater variety than ever before from which to choose. Volunteers may pick a date from January through December, a location from seaside to mountain to desert, accommodations ranging from tent camp to luxury hotel, and the remains of virtually every people that inhabited the Holy Land from the Chalcolithic period through Crusader times. Our 13-column chart and descriptions of the history and digging plans for each site will help you find an excavation that suits your requirements and will be enjoyable to read even if you are not planning to dig this summer.