Archaeology - Roman Palestine
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"Peoples of the book" all look to the ancient land of Palestine for meaning and much has been written about it over the past 3,500 years or so. Egyptians, Hebrews, Canaanites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Turks and modern colonial powers have contended for control of its strategic territories while traders along the Red Sea, Spice and Silk Roads all found their way here or nearby with an amazing array of valuable products and commodities. Some of the world's earliest cities are located here. Historians, artists and travellers have given the world vivid descriptions and explanations about what happened here, and why. Very old ideas of how one should live one's life originated here. And why is this? What is so special about this part of the world? While there is much of value to read about the blandishments of this part of the Eastern Mediterranean, archaeologists speak with a different vocabulary than historians, artists and travellers. Our concerns have to do with people and how they lived, how their lives changed, and what were the times in which these things happened, usually over long periods. We do this with material remains ancient people have lost, discarded or hidden. When we answer our questions about their lives with these remains, which we will do in the dig to take place at the GWGC from Monday August 12th to Friday the 16th, we will be in a unique position to address questions posed by historians and others with an interest in the thought, history, society and economy of the Levant. Our dig focuses on contexts dated to the time when the Common Era began, a little over 2,000 years ago, in the city of Jerusalem, when Rome was the greatest military and political power the western world had ever seen, and it controlled (or tried to control) the sometimes unruly inhabitants of Palestine. In this dig, students will learn how archaeologists accomplish their own tasks of discovery and interpretation, and also how we relate our findings to what has been written, to what has come to be believed about the place and its peoples. Slide lectures centered on the famous places of antiquity (think Jerusalem, Ceasarea and the Dead Sea) but also earlier, more mysterious places (think Tel Megiddo, Hazor and the cities of the Shephelah) are implicated in our understanding of the land and its people. Students will learn the rules and tools of proper archaeology, as well as how to tell correct answers from incorrect ones. Games will be played, questions answered, stories told and magnificent finds discovered in places which have NO reasonable business showing up in faraway Guilderland, NY. It is a week of fun and exciting learning not to be missed.
General Information
- Campers should arrive dressed for the weather, with appropriate footwear and a cap or hat.
- Sunblock and kid-friendly bug dope may also be needed.
- All campers should pack a hearty lunch, labeled drink and a snack.
- Space is limited; please sign up early if you wish to have your children attend.
- Head Instructor: Geoffrey Purcell
- Camp will be held at the Western Turnpike Golf Course Pavilion - turn into the golf course entrance at 2350 Western Ave and follow the entrance road. The pavilion is located just before the road curves to the right - there will be signs!