Designed by:

Call for applicants for participation in the course

“Field School on Archaeological Science”

(For students who are registered in universities outside Israel)

The course “Field School on Archaeological Science” is offered by The Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Bar-Ilan University, and the Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. Registered students will participate in the excavation of the Biblical site Tell es-Safi, identified with Philistine Gath. The purpose of the course is to expose the students to interdisciplinary research that involves archaeology and the natural sciences, in the field. The students will experience interactive work that combines excavation and analysis of materials using an on-site laboratory. The course will emphasize the inter-connection between laboratory analyses and the archaeological context, and will include fieldwork, laboratory work, and lectures.

The course will take place between July 13^th and 18^th, 2008. Accommodation and food will be supplied by the excavation organizers at Kibbutz Revadim. The cost for students who are not registered at Bar-Ilan University is $375 per week. The Kimmel Center will cover the costs for two weeks for the most qualified student (one scholarship only). Applicants with little or no archaeological experience must participate in one week of excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath between July 6^th and 11^th, 2008. An option for participation in a supervised one week project at the site is available between July 20^th and 25^th, 2008 upon confirmation with the course organizers.

The course is worth 2 US academic credits. Students interested in receiving the credit will have to pay an additional sum of $200 to Bar-Ilan University.

Course organizers and their fields of expertise:

Prof. Steve Weiner (WIS): mineralogical analyses, phytoliths, site formation processes

Dr. Elisabetta Boaretto (BIU and WIS): radiocarbon dating, materials analysis

Dr. Ehud Weiss (BIU and WIS): paleoethnobotany

Dr. Ruth Shahack-Gross (BIU and WIS): geoarchaeology, micromorphology

Applications are limited for students from third year undergraduates through Masters and doctoral studies. The best 10 students will be selected. Applications should include one paragraph explaining why the student is interested in participating in this course, CV, list of grades and two names of referees, and sent no later than April 15^th 2008 to:

Dr. Ruth Shahack-Gross

Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science

Weizmann Institute of Science

Rehovot 76100

Israel

E-mail: Ruth.Shahack@Weizmann.ac.il