Whether at the Alter Gleisberg, in Israel, or in Arabia, archaeologists from the University of Jena are conducting a wide range of excavation projects—including one at Tel Shaddud in the Jezreel Valley.
This small tel, located on the edge of the Jezreel Valley—which runs east-west through Israel at the same latitude as Haifa—offers remarkable insights into human history. Thanks to its long history of settlement, the tel takes us through the major eras of history: A medieval fortress stands next to a Roman-era villa, and a fire layer—a relic of a long-past military campaign—is also part of the site. Even an anthropomorphic sarcophagus, which one would typically associate with Egypt, has been found on this tel.
In a short lecture, we’ll present the most exciting finds and the stories behind them, while also offering a glimpse into the day-to-day life of an excavation. Why did a wealthy local man choose to be buried in an “Egyptian” sarcophagus? What is it like to discover a hoard of coins while cleaning a Roman wall? Questions like these are intended to provide an introduction to scientific excavations.
