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Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
Well, it's been about a year and a half since I've last done this and I've got a little spare time.

As most of you may know, I'm an Orthodox Jew. I regard myself as part of what's known in Israel as the "Dati Leumi" community, which translates as "National Religious" (wiki). It essentially means that we observe traditional Jewish law like Ultra-Orthodox Jews (the so-called "black-hatters") but have a strong Zionistic worldview, and believe in the importance of serving in the military and being part of the general Israeli society.

This is where I'm at right now in life:
I'm finishing my BA in archeology and Jewish history at Bar-Ilan University and I'm working as a research assistant for one of my history professors. I'm thinking about pursuing a fast-track doctorate, but I'm having difficulty deciding on a topic for my dissertation.

Until recently I also had a writing job writing about Biblical and Hellenistic archeological sites in Israel for a website developed by Tel-Aviv University's archeology department, but the project's money ran out a few weeks ago, so we (the writers) have basically been fired.

Recently I completed three straight (annual) seasons of excavations at a site called Tel Tibneh in southwestern Samaria. I've been on the expedition's media team since the the start (I did some graphic design, reconstruction artwork, and post writing, but mainly translated posts from Hebrew into English; I'm basically the expedition's official translator), and for the last season and a half also worked as an assistant area supervisor (which is a lot more fun than busting your back with a pickaxe eight hours a day, but on the other hand, you sleep a lot less than the digging students). Much as I'd like to keep on excavating at the site, the expedition's director, one of our archeology professors, has decided to move on to other cool projects, so we're directing our attention to working on the excavation's final report. I was pleasantly surprised to be offered to work on the publication of an Iron Age I (ca. Book of Judges-period/11th-early-10th century BCE) installation found at the site.

IMO, my crowning achievement in art this year was drawing and painting a reconstruction of one of the structures we found at Tel Tibneh, a washing and ritual purification complex from the Second Temple/Inter-revolt periods (ca. mid-1st-mid-2nd centuries CE). The painting became the centerpiece of the poster I designed for the department's annual Young Researchers conference.

Recently, an academic paper I wrote was accepted for publication and should come out sometime in the next ten months. This is an exciting first for me.

Feel free to ask me anything you'd like, on these or other topics. Please keep it clean (nothing vulgar, etc).
 

Jayhawker Soule

-- untitled --
Premium Member
A couple of dating questions ...
  1. Given that 5785 is right around the corner, what is your view of the dating of Gobekli Tepe?
  2. To when would you date the Ezodus?
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
Given that 5785 is right around the corner, what is your view of the dating of Gobekli Tepe?
Are you asking specifically about Gobekli Tepe or my opinion on prehistory in general?
To when would you date the Ezodus?
Let's set aside the question of "the missing years" and let's assume for the moment that I accept the general/secular chronology of ancient history. This past year I've seen more and more evidence-based arguments that have convinced me that the Exodus very likely took place in the decades leading up to the Amarna period, so ca. the late 15th century if I remember correctly.

There are several points but the real clincher for me was learning that men and soldiers of Judah are mentioned in one of the tablets, using the same Akkadian spelling used from the Neo Assyrian period and onwards to refer to Judahites. Though one could argue that these were men from a place called Judah, perhaps a city, like many of the other cities mentioned in the EA Letters, but when coupled with other arguments, I think it's more convincing to say that the reference is to real-deal Judahites, and we're talking about the Conquest or Judges period. You can find what is basically the only academic paper on the topic here (believe me, I've searched, and even other scholars who argue that the Exodus was before Amarna don't seem to mention this). Anyway, that's my current position, although I've moved through different theories over the years, so things may change in the future. This is an interesting question of course, but doesn't really bother me all that much, so I feel okay with changing my mind on this.
 

Jayhawker Soule

-- untitled --
Premium Member
Are you asking specifically about Gobekli Tepe or my opinion on prehistory in general?

I'm interested in your view of the dating of Gobekli Tepe.

This past year I've seen more and more evidence-based arguments that have convinced me that the Exodus very likely took place in the decades leading up to the Amarna period, so ca. the late 15th century if I remember correctly.

I think it's more like mid 14th, but thanks.

There are several points but the real clincher for me was learning that men and soldiers of Judah are mentioned in one of the tablets, using the same Akkadian spelling used from the Neo Assyrian period and onwards to refer to Judahites.

That's interesting, and I'd really appreciate a reference. Perhaps you could message me so we don't totally derail this thread. :)
 

England my lionheart

Rockerjahili Rebel
Premium Member
Well, it's been about a year and a half since I've last done this and I've got a little spare time.

As most of you may know, I'm an Orthodox Jew. I regard myself as part of what's known in Israel as the "Dati Leumi" community, which translates as "National Religious" (wiki). It essentially means that we observe traditional Jewish law like Ultra-Orthodox Jews (the so-called "black-hatters") but have a strong Zionistic worldview, and believe in the importance of serving in the military and being part of the general Israeli society.

This is where I'm at right now in life:
I'm finishing my BA in archeology and Jewish history at Bar-Ilan University and I'm working as a research assistant for one of my history professors. I'm thinking about pursuing a fast-track doctorate, but I'm having difficulty deciding on a topic for my dissertation.

Until recently I also had a writing job writing about Biblical and Hellenistic archeological sites in Israel for a website developed by Tel-Aviv University's archeology department, but the project's money ran out a few weeks ago, so we (the writers) have basically been fired.

Recently I completed three straight (annual) seasons of excavations at a site called Tel Tibneh in southwestern Samaria. I've been on the expedition's media team since the the start (I did some graphic design, reconstruction artwork, and post writing, but mainly translated posts from Hebrew into English; I'm basically the expedition's official translator), and for the last season and a half also worked as an assistant area supervisor (which is a lot more fun than busting your back with a pickaxe eight hours a day, but on the other hand, you sleep a lot less than the digging students). Much as I'd like to keep on excavating at the site, the expedition's director, one of our archeology professors, has decided to move on to other cool projects, so we're directing our attention to working on the excavation's final report. I was pleasantly surprised to be offered to work on the publication of an Iron Age I (ca. Book of Judges-period/11th-early-10th century BCE) installation found at the site.

IMO, my crowning achievement in art this year was drawing and painting a reconstruction of one of the structures we found at Tel Tibneh, a washing and ritual purification complex from the Second Temple/Inter-revolt periods (ca. mid-1st-mid-2nd centuries CE). The painting became the centerpiece of the poster I designed for the department's annual Young Researchers conference.

Recently, an academic paper I wrote was accepted for publication and should come out sometime in the next ten months. This is an exciting first for me.

Feel free to ask me anything you'd like, on these or other topics. Please keep it clean (nothing vulgar, etc).

There was another Israeli member some years back called Caladan who became an archaeologist,good for you.

My question for you,as an archaeologist what would be your dream dig?.
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
I'm interested in your view of the dating of Gobekli Tepe.
I don't have any personal issue with the dating. Rabbi A. I. Kook stated more than once that there's no inherent difficulty with accepting the scientific dating of the world (see here for example). If you're looking for a more specific answer, could you clarify why you're asking specifically about Gobekli Tepe?
I think it's more like mid 14th, but thanks
That's Amarna, I think. By the 15th century I was referring to what I currently suppose is the time of the Exodus. But I may be wrong either way.
That's interesting, and I'd really appreciate a reference. Perhaps you could message me so we don't totally derail this thread. :)
I'd be very happy to discuss this further in private, if you'd like, but here's the link to what is basically the only scholarly article to discuss the matter of the Judahites in Amarna. Most scholars who support a pre-Amarna Exodus don't seem to even be aware of this, and that's a shame IMO. I myself first heard of this through an article by the Armstrong Institute.
 
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Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
Are you considering a career in academia?
I am, which is interesting to me because when I started my BA I thought I would go straight to work at the Israel Antiquities Authority, but now I'm leaning more to academia and less to the IAA (but I haven't ruled out that option). I was convinced I might have a future in academia by some of my history professors.
 

Eddi

Pantheist Christian
Premium Member
I am, which is interesting to me because when I started my BA I thought I would go straight to work at the Israel Antiquities Authority, but now I'm leaning more to academia and less to the IAA (but I haven't ruled out that option). I was convinced I might have a future in academia by some of my history professors.
I wish you every success

I think archaeology is really cool and there must be lots of interesting things and places to excavate where you're based

My sister got a PhD but didn't want to work in academia, she went and did other stuff instead, the conditions working in the university were stressful and demanding and the pay wasn't as good as in other sectors
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
There was another Israeli member some years back called Caladan who became an archaeologist,good for you.
Thanks! Yes, I've heard of him. He left before my time, though. Too bad.
My question for you,as an archaeologist what would be your dream dig?.
There are several sites I'd like to excavate, most of them being sites I don't have access to as an Israeli and as a Jew. For example, I've grown quite attached to Tel Jenin which lies at the heart of the modern city of Jenin in northern Samaria because of countless hours of research I conducted on that site while working on a paper I've been trying to get published for the last couple of years (not the one mentioned in the OP). Sadly the final report of the small-scale excavations held there in the late 70s was never published, and besides, the really interesting layers (the Iron Age/biblical layers) weren't excavated. Hardly any of the tel is left, though, because of many decades of construction eating away parts of the site.
 

England my lionheart

Rockerjahili Rebel
Premium Member
Thanks! Yes, I've heard of him. He left before my time, though. Too bad.

Yes,he was passionate about archaeology too so too bad.
There are several sites I'd like to excavate, most of them being sites I don't have access to as an Israeli and as a Jew. For example, I've grown quite attached to Tel Jenin which lies at the heart of the modern city of Jenin in northern Samaria because of countless hours of research I conducted on that site while working on a paper I've been trying to get published for the last couple of years (not the one mentioned in the OP). Sadly the final report of the small-scale excavations held there in the late 70s was never published, and besides, the really interesting layers (the Iron Age/biblical layers) weren't excavated. Hardly any of the tel is left, though, because of many decades of construction eating away parts of the site.

That’s a shame that archaeology has boundaries,I was fascinated with Egyptian hieroglyphs as a kid but went on to be a builder.

I hope you find an amazing discovery and you get your paper published.
 
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