2014 Scholarship Recipients Go Digging

Straight from the field to you, hear from some of the individuals who were awarded BAR scholarships in 2014. They offer insight into what fieldwork at an archaeological excavation really looks like and whether the experience was worthwhile—all the while recognizing that their summer expeditions would not have been possible without the generous donations of the people who funded their scholarships.

Shaun Short

As this was my first trip to Israel, I was very excited to merely step foot in the country, breathe in the culture and—of course—get my hands dirty in that ancient soil. My entire trip was made all the more memorable by the excellent staff at Tel Burna. Dr. Itzhaq Shai and his team exude professionalism and scholarly passion, and their hospitality is unrivaled.

The first couple of days of excavation certainly took some getting used to, but once a rhythm was found, I can sincerely say that I doubt much will ever top the charm of my first dig experience. There truly is something magical about digging an ancient story out of the dirt and exhuming priceless artifacts that have been buried for more than 3,000 years.