| CARVIEW |
Aug 24 is Approaching and We are Getting Ready for Tel ‘Eter!
We will be in the field at Tel ‘Eter, south of Tel Burna, from August 24th to September 5th.
All are welcome to join us
*For those interested please contact us directly at telether2025team@gmail.com or Debi via WhatsApp +972-544719889
Here are some photos from our short bout in the field surveying and drilling along the Guvrin River Valley in July. A cistern found while surveying, Benjamin pointing out Tel Burna from a drilling site, drilling in a field south of Nahal Guvrin, and the drilled treasures awaiting analysis.
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Updated Dates for Tel ‘Eter Excavations
Living in Israel requires flexibility, therefore, we have not cancelled our project at Tel ‘Eter and Nahal Guvrin.
We have new dates for excavating at Tel ‘Eter from August 24th to September 5th!! All are welcome to join us then.*
Next week a small group of us will be in the field for a few days as part of the ISF (Israel Science Foundation) grant to study agricultural land-use strategies in antiquity. Directed by Oren Ackerman and Itzick Shai, next week’s work will include surveying and drillings at key spots along the Guvrin River valley. We will post photos from the field.
*For those interested please contact us directly at telether2025team@gmail.com or Debi via WhatsApp +972-544719889
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Applications for Biblical Archaeology Society (BAS) 2025 Dig Scholarships
The Biblical Archaeology Society (BAS) has, through the years, been instrumental in supporting students and volunteers who want to excavate in our region.
We, at Tel Bruna, have been fortunate to have had beneficiaries of the BAS scholarships join us in the field.
If you are planning on joining us in our upcoming season, June 22-July 18, 2025, when we start our new excavations at Tel Ether, we highly recommend that you check out the BAS site and apply for their scholarships.
The Deadline is March 21st!!!!!!
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Why Tel Ether?
Check out the nice writeup on our new excavations at Tel Ether that just appeared in the dig issue of Biblical Archaeological Review.
The excavations of Khirbet ‘Ether are a continuation of the Tel Burna Excavation Project. The Tel Burna excavations ended in 2024 and are in an intensive publication phase. In the process of the Tel Burna excavations, surveys of the hinterland as well as a surface survey of the nearby site of Khirbet ‘Ether were conducted. Our results showed a site that was occupied during the Late Iron IIA through the Iron IIC (contemporary with Tel Burna), as well as in later periods, especially the Byzantine period.
Khirbet ʿEther is almost certainly identical to biblical Ether – a town mentioned in the Libnah district of Judah – right after Libnah and before Ashan (Joshua 15:42). The two Judean towns/villages sit directly across from each other with the Guvrin River between them. ‘Ether is a smaller site than Tel Burna (Libnah) and was either not fortified or not as well fortified. In the Iron Age, it seems that it was the next tier down from Libnah, which itself is only a fortified town compared to the administrative center of nearby Lachish (the second-most important town in Judah during the period).
Few studies deal with agricultural customs and those which focus on ancient fields are very rare. Hence, this new project aims to investigate this aspect of the ancient local economy by comparing and analyzing the various finds in two nearby sites of Tel Burna and Tel ‘Ether and the agricultural installations and fields surrounding these sites. Our research will consist of surveying and collecting data on each side of the river, as well as the excavations of Khirbet ‘Ether. Come join us this summer as we attempt to reconstruct the relationship between two towns in the heartland of Judah.
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New 2025 Project! Khirbet ʿEther!
We are excited to announce that we are staying in Nahal Guvrin for at least the 2025 summer season. We will be starting a project at the nearby site of Khirbet ʿEther. We already carried out a surface survey of the site a few years ago and the results were published. Our results showed a site that was occupied during the Late Iron IIA through the Iron IIC (contemporary with Tel Burna), as well as in later periods especially the Byzantine period. Itzick and Oren Ackerman received an ISF grant to study the agricultural fields around ʿEther, which enables research on this fascinating site. Ether is a smaller site that Tel Burna/Libnah and was either not fortified or not as well fortified. In the Iron Age, it seems that it was the next tier down from Libnah, which itself is only a fortified town compared to the administrative center of nearby Lachish (the second-most important town in Judah during the period). What will be the nature of the finds at Khirbet ʿEther? How will this site compare to Tel Burna and Lachish? What surprises await us that differ from our expectations? Come join us to find out!
Khirbet ʿEther is almost certainly identical with biblical Ether – a town mentioned in the Libnah district of Judah – right after Libnah and before Ashan (Josh 15:42). Ether also appears together with Ashan in Joshua’s version of the Simeonite towns. It may also appear as “Tochen” in the Simeonite version of this same list (1 Chr 4:32). Ether’s name is perfectly preserved by the Arabic ʿEther. I have argued that the Simeonite towns of Etam (Tell ʿAitun/Tel ʿEton), En-rimmon (Tel Halif), Ether (Khirbet ʿEther), and Ashan (Tell Judeideh/Goded?) are all located within the Judean Shephelah unlike the other district of Simeonite towns, which are located more in the Negev.
We hope you join us in the field this summer!
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Congrats to our Fearless Leader!!! (Full) Prof. Shai!!!
A huge congratulations is in order to our director – who has been granted the rank of Full Professor at Ariel University! Way to go Itzick – a huge and extremely well-deserved accomplishment! The team looks forward to celebrating this achievement in a couple of months in the field!
And now a photo Itzick from an earlier season 🙂
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Registration for 2024 Season Open!
Registration for the 2024 Season of Tel Burna is officially open! See here for the online registration and here for the pdf/print version.
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Call for Application for Ladislav Šmejda Postdoctoral Fellowship 2024 at Ariel University
We are pleased to announce the establishment of a post-doc named after Ladislav – who tragically passed away in 2022.
Ariel University (AU) is focused on promoting research through international scientific collaborations. As such, AU is distributing this call for application for a postdoctoral Fellowship named after a close friend of the university, who promoted research collaborations between Ariel University and academia in the Czech Republic. Professor Ladislav Šmejda (26th August 1975 – 27th November 2022) was a distinguished Czech scholar known for his profound contributions to theoretical archaeology and pioneering advancements in remote sensing methodologies. His research encompassed a wide spectrum, ranging from the application of computer techniques to environmental archaeology and cultural anthropology, often delving into historical realms. His dedication to learning and expanding research methodologies was evident in his multidisciplinary approach, a hallmark reflected throughout his extensive studies and publications. Beyond his scholarly pursuits, Prof. Šmejda fostered a strong bond with Ariel University, playing a pivotal role in establishing a collaborative partnership between Czech universities (Czech University of Life Science, Prague, and University of West Bohemia), and Ariel University. His legacy remains an inspiration to the academic community.
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The Tel Burna Excavation Project 