Digging Mount Zion
I have always been fascinated with archaeology. I love to read about discoveries in the holy land, where this or that ancient artifact is unearthed. We all love to find connections with the roots of our faiths. If you are like me, you would love to participate in an archaeological dig. For me, the time away and the money have always been obstacles that I simply cannot overcome. This got me thinking.
How can I somehow be part of such an exciting opportunity given my current situation?
In line with all that we are doing through our web-based outreaches; Roots of Faith, the Synagogue Without Walls, and Arba4, I want to offer a challenge and encourage people to band together and sponsor the most exciting Expedition going on right now in Israel – The Mount Zion Archaeological Expedition.
I am more than excited about the possibilities for incredible finds from this expedition. Director Shimon Gibson (British-born archaeologist working in Jerusalem, where he is currently a Senior Associate Fellow at the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research), and Academic Director James D. Tabor (Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte) have teamed up to lead this dig. Professor Tabor’s university (UNCC) is the only university that has received a permit to dig in the Old City of Jerusalem in 30 years! The area in which they are working is just outside the present Old City wall along the road between Zion gate and the Dung Gate. In Roman times this was well within the ancient city walls of the Jerusalem in which the historical Jesus walked.
I have spoken with Academic Director James D. Tabor and he has expressed much optimism concerning the expected finds, from coins, to pottery as well as stone artifacts that may help shed light on our understanding of the Biblical texts that we all love. Dr. Tabor tells me that they will reach the Roman levels during this season.
This is quite exciting and there is just no telling what might be uncovered with the spade. I know many of those who are with him on this dig and can tell you that they will work tirelessly in their efforts. In fact, several people on this list have been on this dig, some are on this dig now, some are scrambling to get to the dig and some been supporters of the Mount Zion Archaeological Expedition.
All of this is taking place near such sites as the Praetorium where Jesus was tried before Pilate, the most likely setting for the Last Supper, and the House of Caiaphas to name just a few.
I see in all of this an excellent opportunity for us to take part even if we cannot actually dig in the dirt and sweat with the rest of the team. While we may not have the funds to travel to the site, our help is greatly needed in terms of financing the dig. These expeditions costs money – lots and lots of money! Making matters worse, we are all dealing with tough economic times. All state funds were frozen, and so while in past seasons, the University was able to budget some funds for the dig, this year there was no funding for the dig.
While the amount required to pull something like this off is quite substantial, we can help if we band together and help as our current situation allows. Already, the Web drive alone has attracted some 70+ donors. You can participate in this as well by going to the website. There you will find a link for their web drive. All contributions are tax deductible through The Foundation for Biblical Archaeology with no handling fees. This means that your entire contribution goes directly from your hand to the hands that hold the spade!
The project has a wonderful website where one can log in and learn more about what is going on. Please take some time to browse the Official Site of the Mount Zion Archaeological Expedition.
I hope to communicate all of the exciting finds as soon as word is released from Israel by the Official Dig Team. I am also hopeful that Dr. Tabor will join this group as our own leading expert. This is one way that you can join in the dig! We can’t make you sweat across the web – you will have to get up and move around a bit as you read the posts:).
I hope that in a small way I am providing you with a way by this note to become part of an incredible opportunity to participate in the exciting field of Biblical Archaeology. Don’t delay! Become part of this today!
How can I somehow be part of such an exciting opportunity given my current situation?
In line with all that we are doing through our web-based outreaches; Roots of Faith, the Synagogue Without Walls, and Arba4, I want to offer a challenge and encourage people to band together and sponsor the most exciting Expedition going on right now in Israel – The Mount Zion Archaeological Expedition.
I am more than excited about the possibilities for incredible finds from this expedition. Director Shimon Gibson (British-born archaeologist working in Jerusalem, where he is currently a Senior Associate Fellow at the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research), and Academic Director James D. Tabor (Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte) have teamed up to lead this dig. Professor Tabor’s university (UNCC) is the only university that has received a permit to dig in the Old City of Jerusalem in 30 years! The area in which they are working is just outside the present Old City wall along the road between Zion gate and the Dung Gate. In Roman times this was well within the ancient city walls of the Jerusalem in which the historical Jesus walked.
I have spoken with Academic Director James D. Tabor and he has expressed much optimism concerning the expected finds, from coins, to pottery as well as stone artifacts that may help shed light on our understanding of the Biblical texts that we all love. Dr. Tabor tells me that they will reach the Roman levels during this season.
This is quite exciting and there is just no telling what might be uncovered with the spade. I know many of those who are with him on this dig and can tell you that they will work tirelessly in their efforts. In fact, several people on this list have been on this dig, some are on this dig now, some are scrambling to get to the dig and some been supporters of the Mount Zion Archaeological Expedition.
All of this is taking place near such sites as the Praetorium where Jesus was tried before Pilate, the most likely setting for the Last Supper, and the House of Caiaphas to name just a few.
I see in all of this an excellent opportunity for us to take part even if we cannot actually dig in the dirt and sweat with the rest of the team. While we may not have the funds to travel to the site, our help is greatly needed in terms of financing the dig. These expeditions costs money – lots and lots of money! Making matters worse, we are all dealing with tough economic times. All state funds were frozen, and so while in past seasons, the University was able to budget some funds for the dig, this year there was no funding for the dig.
While the amount required to pull something like this off is quite substantial, we can help if we band together and help as our current situation allows. Already, the Web drive alone has attracted some 70+ donors. You can participate in this as well by going to the website. There you will find a link for their web drive. All contributions are tax deductible through The Foundation for Biblical Archaeology with no handling fees. This means that your entire contribution goes directly from your hand to the hands that hold the spade!
The project has a wonderful website where one can log in and learn more about what is going on. Please take some time to browse the Official Site of the Mount Zion Archaeological Expedition.
I hope to communicate all of the exciting finds as soon as word is released from Israel by the Official Dig Team. I am also hopeful that Dr. Tabor will join this group as our own leading expert. This is one way that you can join in the dig! We can’t make you sweat across the web – you will have to get up and move around a bit as you read the posts:).
I hope that in a small way I am providing you with a way by this note to become part of an incredible opportunity to participate in the exciting field of Biblical Archaeology. Don’t delay! Become part of this today!
Tags: archaeology, biblical, holy, land, mount, zion
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Permalink Reply by James Daniel Tabor on -
Mt Zion is used in the Tanakh/Hebrew Bible to refer to in a general way to the terrain of Jerusalem with its "seven hills," as well as to the Temple Mount and the lower "City of David" located on what is called the Ophel, the crescent shaped area just south of the Temple Mount. Today, in contemporary Jersusalem, Mt Zion refers to the highest of those seven hills, the one on the southwest, which is currently outside the Old City Wall. It is, for that reason, sometimes called "Christian Mt Zion" to distinguish it from the other areas that can be referred to by the same name. What many do not realize, however, is that the present city walls only date to the 15th century, built by the Turkish/Ottoman conquerer, Suleiman "the magnificent." Even though on the west, north, and east, this present wall was built roughly over the foundations of the ancient wall dating back to the 2nd Temple period, such is not the case when it comes to the present city wall on the south. Mt Zion, in ancient times, was wholly inside the city wall, not outside as today. See the map on our http://digmountzion.com Web site. This means that we are digging "outside" the Old City, but in fact, our site was "city center" in the ancient period! This makes our excavation all the more exciting. In terms of Mt Zion itself, if one is interested in the life of Jesus, truly this area of the city is of great and special interest. See for example, the article on the "Church of the Apostles" by Bargil Pixner at http://www.centuryone.org/apostles.html for a start.
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Started by Ross Nichols. Last reply by James Daniel Tabor Jun 19, 2009.
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