Note on Forms:  In order for your registration to be fully processed you must download the required forms, correctly fill them out, and upload them to your application. See instructions on page 7 of the application. It is highly recommended that the applicant fill out the above forms before beginning the application. This includes uploading your medical release (to be signed and sealed by your doctor). 

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Field School in Field Archaeology at the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project:

Prof. Aren. M.Maeir - June 28-July 24, 2020

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain academic and practical experience in the recovery and analysis of the material remains of an ancient culture. The focus of the practicum is on biblical or Syro-Palestinian archaeology. The course takes place during the four-week dig season at Tell es-Safi that is identified as biblical Gath of the Philistines. Students will participate in all aspects of the excavation, including digging and surveying at the site, gain experience in remote sensing applications, and participate in the various tasks that take place at the base camp, such as the washing and reading of pottery. Field trips to historical/archaeological sites and museums in the general area will be provided twice weekly. Lectures on topics relating to the site, the archaeology of Israel, and archaeological methodology will be held twice weekly. The course runs from Sunday through Friday each week. The course will be conducted at both the undergraduate and graduate level. 

Academic credit for this course will be given through Bar-Ilan University, the second largest university in Israel, as part of the courses of the Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology. The lectures will be presented by the project staff, as well as various distinguished guest lecturers. On completion of the course, the student will receive three (3) or six (6) academic credits, depending on the length of participation (2 or 4 weeks).

The course will be graded based on the assessment (by the Project director and staff members) of the student’s participation and on the materials (lecture and field trip summaries; excavation documentation materials, etc.) that will be submitted at the end of the course.

Price for Field School in Field Archaeology: 

$500 for 2 weeks (3 credits) and $1000 for 4 weeks (6 credits), in addition to standard R&B. The applicant will be contacted about payment processing following their acceptance into the program. 

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We will be staying at lovely Zafit Regional School, Kibbutz Kfar Menahem (located a short distance away from the tell). We are sure that the conditions will be as good, if not better, than in previous years. 

Volunteers will participate both in excavation (ca. 6AM-1PM) and in post-excavation activities such as pottery washing which will be conducted in the afternoon and evening. Additional information about working and living conditions will be supplied following application acceptance. 

For every week of work at the excavation, each volunteer must pay $550 (US). In addition, there is a non-refundable $50 application fee ($1150 for two weeks, $1700 for three weeks, $2200 for four weeks). If one attends the entire four weeks of excavation, he/she shall be exempt from the $50 application fee $2200 (US).  Minimum stay is two weeks. Deadline for registration is May 1, 2020; Deadline for payment is June 1st, 2020. Note: See the options below for pricing for slightly cheaper rooms ($500/week), single rooms ($1150/week), and double rooms ($850/week).  

Registration will be finalized with the receipt of $1150, $1700 or $2200 (= registration fee + payment according to planned duration at excavation), in one of the following methods of payment: 1) Personal or bank check, made out ONLY to "ISRAELI INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY" (Payment not in dollars will require a $30 processing fee; 2) Credit card (fill in details below). If paying by credit card, please add a 5% processing fee to the sum; 3) Bank transfer (add a $30 processing fee) to the following bank account: Bank: UBank; Bank branch address: 1 Ha'Mada St., Rehovot 76703 ISRAEL; Account name: Israeli Institute of Archaeology; Account number: 262668; IBAN: IL310262790000000262668; Swift: FIRBILITXXX

Payment includes the following:

Participation in the excavation and related activities; Room and Board from Sunday afternoon until Friday morning in a standard room (4-6 people per room); Travel from the base camp to the site and back.  

Payment DOES NOT include the following:

Medical and accident insurance; travel to and from Israel; travel to and from the airport (or other places of origin) to base camp (Zafit Regional School, Kibbutz Kfar Menahem); travel to and from base camp on weekends; laundry; R&B from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. Weekend accommodations at Zafit Regional School, Kibbutz Kfar Menahem are available - see below for details.

Option for Cheaper Rooms:

Standard lodgings are 4-6 people per room. If you are interested in a reduced cost for the regular room - there are some rooms available for $500/week. Please note that these cheaper rooms depend on availability

Option for Single or Double Rooms:

Standard lodgings are 4-6 people per room. If you are interested in lodgings in a single or double room, there is an additional charge. Single rooms cost $1150 per week (or an additional $600/week); Double rooms cost $850 (or an additional $300) per person per week. Please note that single and double rooms depend on availability. 

TRAVELLER’S CHECKS NOT ACCEPTED!

Order your complimentary t-shirt!

Each team member will receive a complimentary dig t-shirt upon his arrival to the dig.

In order to enable us to order the t-shirts before the dig so as to have them on time, please fill out the following information regarding the t-shirts you are interested in. Do note that if you don't order the shirt(s) before hand, we can't insure that there will be enough shirts for all!

* If you are interested (1) t-shirt it is complimentary

* If you are interested in additional t-shirts, each one costs US$10 (ten dollars).

The shirts will have the dig symbol on the front upper left hand side, and an as yet to be chosen find with writing around it on the back.

* The following colors will be available:

Dark Blue; Gray; Black; Red; Yellow; Green

* Please mark the size which you want:

S; M; L; XL; XXL; XXXL

* If you wish additional shirts, please write below the amount, color and sizes below:

Refund Policy

In the event of cancellation of participation, the following refund policy will apply:  

1) Cancellations effective before May 15th, 2020 will receive full refund (not including non-refundable $50 registration fee).

2) Cancellations effective after May 15th, 2020, but before June 1, 2020 will receive refund of 50% of their payment (not including non-refundable $50 registration fee).

3) Cancellations effective after June 1, 2020 will not be refunded. This refund policy is in effect since we order, and pay, for services according to pre-planned numbers of participants. Thus, we must have sufficient prior notice of cancellations so that we are not charged for these services. All cancellations must be done by email and must receive a written confirmation before they are effective. 

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All participants must have health and accident insurance, which are valid in Israel. 

The Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project can refer volunteers to physicians or hospitals in case of accident or illness. However, it must be understood that the costs of medical care and hospitalization will be borne by the volunteer and not by the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project, the project directors and staff, and/or affiliated institutions. Volunteers must have available methods of payment (cash, credit or other) to pay medical fees if needed (e.g., ca. $250 for visit to emergency room).

Note: For applicants who plan to receive their health/accident insurance through their airline, but have yet to purchase their airfare - please write "To be purchased through my airline" in the relevant fields. Please note, that you will be required to supply this information to the excavation before you can participate in field excavations. 

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All participants are required to participate, to the best of their abilities, in all the various activities that are part of the excavation process. If they are having difficulties in participating in these activities, the project should be notified. Volunteers are required to follow the directives of the excavation project’s staff. Volunteers will not act in any manner that could endanger themselves or other people. Volunteers will not act in a manner that can cause physical injury and/or damage to other people or objects. Volunteers will not behave in a disruptive and/or rowdy manner and will not act in a fashion that is offensive to other participants or the surroundings. Cohabitation is not permitted unless participants have reserved and paid for a double room of their own. Volunteers will not act in a manner contrary to accepted legal norms. Volunteers are expected to behave in a manner that is tolerant to other beliefs, lifestyles and convictions. Substance abuse of any kind (save for moderate consumption of alcohol) will not be permitted. The project director reserves the right (at his discretion) to expel from the excavation (and all related activities) volunteers that will not conform to these requirements.

Intellectual Property:

The finds discovered during the excavation are the intellectual property of the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project and can be used, in any form, only with the written consent of the Project Director, Prof. Aren M. Maeir. Finds of all kinds cannot be published, in any format without formal permission.

Conduct and Behavior of Minors

In the case of minors (under the age of 18), the parent/legal guardian will insure that this form is properly filled-out and that this code of conduct & behavior is fully understood by the volunteer. In the case of misconduct (and subsequent expulsion from the excavation) the parent/legal guardian will be notified by the excavation staff and it will be the parent/legal guardian’s responsibility to find alternate plans for the minor.   

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In consideration of being permitted to participate in the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project, I agree that I shall so conduct that study in a responsible and professional manner and shall respect and abide by the laws and customs of Israel, the host country.

I have enrolled in appropriate medical and insurance coverage programs.

On my behalf and on behalf of my heirs, executors, personal representatives, contractees and employees, I hereby release and forever discharge Bar-Ilan University and the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project, their officers and employees from any claim for loss, death, disability, delay, or damage to person, property, or for accident or illness howsoever arising which may be suffered by me or by anyone claiming though me, during the period of, in consequence of, or in any way related to the work and/or study undertaken by me in connection with my participation in this Expedition.

I have fully informed my Next of Kin regarding all aspects of my proposed volunteering and/or study, including the nature of any possible risks.

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Please upload a "passport-like," current picture of yourself - see example below. Please only use jpeg or png format for your picture. Please do not include pictures of you surfing (either the waves or the web), yourself driving, or the back of your head :).  

Please upload a correctly filled-out "Health Form" (click for download) upon receiving your physician’s authorization that you are "fit to participate" in excavating. Please name the file using the following format - YYYY-MM-DD LastName_FirstName Health Form (e.g. 2020-01-01 Maeir_Aren Health Form) Only a pdf will be accepted – please do not upload other formats such as jpeg, png, tiff, etc. 

Free pdf-creating programs:

For Windows users - try DoPDF. See here for a tutorial showing how to use DoPDF to create pdfs from images. 

For Mac users, you can use the built-in program "Preview" to convert an image to a pdf.

Steps for creating a pdf from a scanned or photographed document:

1. Download and printout the pdf form. 

2. Correctly fill out the printed form.

3. Photograph or scan the filled-out form - creating a jpeg or png file on your computer (note: many scanners and some smartphone applications allow for a scan to be created to a pdf directly).  

4. Use DoPDF, Preview (Mac), or another appropriate software to convert the image to a pdf file. 

5. Name the file using the following format YYYY-MM-DD LastName_FirstName Health Form (repeat this process for the Signature Form replacing "Health Form" with "Signature Form").

6. Upload the form by clicking "Choose File" in the Participant Application (below)

Please upload a signed, pdf copy of the "Health Form" (click for download). Only a pdf will be accepted.

Please upload a signed, pdf copy of the "Signature Form" (click for download). Only a pdf will be accepted.