Our work began at 5:30 as always, even though we were having an eminent Tel Aviv archeology photographer come to document each area. He came by helicopter at 6 AM and each site was swept clean; not a footprint or a loose pebble anywhere. The biggest thing that the wall separating "my" little area got pickaxed and hauled away. I spent a couple of hours on my knees filling buckets and a couple more wielding the wheelbarrow. We got down lower where the soil was harder, but there were a lot of artifacts. I found my best thing all week which was hidden inside a big clod of dirt & chalk. It's an iron age pitcher handle with part of the pitcher wall still intact. We went to a reform synagogue for Shabbat tonight and it was lovely: a beautiful a new building & welcoming (English-speaking) people. The entire service was sung, in Hebrew of course, with a lot of songs and prayers not in their little book. And all the melodies of prayers and songs that I do know were different. I jumped in from time to time, and even though I was confused I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Tomorrow we're going on a dig-sponsored tour of Northern Israel - Masada, Acca and a couple of other places. Sunday at noon we move to the Grand Court Hotel in the heart of Jerusalem. We have an Israeli guide to accompany us on day trips from there.
I don't know if I'll be able to continue the blog after Sunday, because I'm uncertain if there's an Internet Wi-fi or other hook up at that hotel. It will be sad to leave Ramat Rahel -- I've met a lot of really great, interesting people here and it's been just a great experience.
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