S9: Weekend Field Trips
- Bethsaida-Julias Staff
- Aug 2
- 2 min read
One of the great opportunities of being a part of our excavation is to hear lectures by scholars and to enjoy field trips, some shorter ones in the afternoon of dig days and longer field trips on Friday and Saturday. On Friday we were guided by Achia to interesting locations in the Beth Shean region. First we traveled to Tel Shalem near Tirat Zvi. There are the remains of a camp of the Roman Sixth Legion with the foundations of buildings and pottery everywhere on the surface. This is the place where the famous bronze statue of Hadrian was found. It is now exhibited in the Israel Museum. Afterwards we were able to visit the rarely seen nearby Ma'oz Khayim synagogue. Achia was able to get the key and allow us to view the beautiful mosaic floors from this 3rd century house of worship. From there we visited the 6th century synagogue of Beth Alpha with its famous zodiac in the middle of the floor. After a brief swim at the tourquoise, tepid pools of Sachne (Gan Hashlosha) we traveled up to Ma'aleh Gilboa to visit the lovely home of Achia and Hana KohnTavor and their family. This morning (Saturday), as has become the el Araj tradition, we climbed nearby Mount Arbel before dawn and watched the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Although it is not an easy climb, one is rewarded with magnificient vista. As it happens, today is the eve of Tisha b'Av which in the Jewish calendar remembers the destruction of the First and Second Temples. Motti Aviam decided that it would be fitting to take us to the site of Yodfat (Jotapata), home of Josephus Flavius and the place of the first battle in the Jewish Revolut against Rome that eventually led to the destruction of the Second Temple. Motti excavated Yodfat for 7 seasons and knows it better than anyone in the world. It was an historical and archaeological feast. After Yodfat and shwarma in a nearby cafe for lunch, we made a brief visit at the archaeological site of a Byzantine church in Karmiel called Khirbat Kav. All in all it has been a great two days and we are ready for our final week of excavation.
