Jezreel Expedition blog June 5, 2012

By Emma Dunleavy

…and on the third day we began our survey near the spring of Jezreel. We trampled, traversed, and tripped our way through grass, weeds, and plants taller than our heads. Surprisingly, we were able to discover a path in the undergrowth which might have been used in the 20^th century. After our heroic stamping through the bush we surveyed a cleared open field and collected fragments of pottery, flint and basalt. We found many fragments of pottery dating from the Early Bronze Age to the Byzantine period. In the late afternoon session we returned to Jezreel to survey a large remaining section of the eastern slope. Many of us felt like mountain goats while surveying, and I believe a few bleats could be heard coming from our team. The finds this afternoon were among the most interesting yet: a large olive or wine press cut into the rock as well as an unfinished sarcophagus still in a quarry.

Surveying on the terrace near the spring in the morning.

Aces in the Hole June 4, 2012

Jezreel Expedition Blog Entry June 4, 2012 by Emily Mella

Today was our second day of surveying, and I was in charge of filling out locus sheets for the morning. While my drawing skills leave something to be desired, I enjoyed filling out the forms and making sure that we documented each feature that we came upon. After we recorded some easily identifiable features, we plunged into an area of very thick brush and cacti to see what we could find. Some areas were full of prickles and difficult to cross, but we were able to uncover some interesting things, including two mosaic floors, lots of evidence of quarrying, and channels cut into the bedrock. After breakfast, we took a tour of the tel and enjoyed seeing the remains of the tower and examining the many pottery sherds that we found on the surface.

Visiting "Jezebel's Tower" on the tel.

This afternoon we returned to the lower area of the hillside and came across a dead cow that had inexplicably gone unnoticed the day before - most of us didn't even notice it until we were almost on top of it. We documented quite a few caves and several cup marks cut into the rock, as well as more evidence of quarrying. We surveyed the other half of the field, and Sarah and I got stuck on an overhang while looking at a neat cave. The two of us ended up having to backtrack and take the long way back to the others. After more measuring and documenting (I recorded GPS coordinates this afternoon), Mike and I went searching for our missing brush, which somehow ended up near the dead cow. Overall, it was another hot, tiring, itchy, interesting, sunny, eventful, and successful day!

Jezreel Expedition 2012 Blog: "Aces in the Hole"

Each of the eight students participating in the 2012 season of the Jezreel Expedition will post a blog entry detailing work at the site each day.

June 3, 2012 by Megan Anderson

We were up bright and early for our first day to meet the dawn as it rose over Jezreel.  Our fearless leaders Dr. Jennie Ebeling and Dr. Norma Franklin handed out jobs and clipboards and we began our survey of Area L, which is east of the tel.  We found amazing features, including several of the many cisterns that dot the landscape and several other rock cut features.  At 10:00 am, we took a long break for breakfast and enjoyed delicious Israeli fare compliments of Kibbutz Yizreel.  After our rest we took to the field again.  Nate Biondi and Sarah Carlton kept everything organized by taking detailed field notes and Emma Dunleavy and Mike Koletsos documented the finds with cameras (assisted by Emily Mella and Kelly Goodner).  When it came time to survey the lower portion of Area L later in the afternoon, we continued in true Indiana Jones fashion as we fearlessly rolled under a barbed wire fence to reach the pasture beyond.  There we were not disappointed, as we found many more features including a multi-chamber tomb located by Emma Dunleavy which we were able to enter.  Hilda Torres scaled its side to take measurements and Megan Anderson used a GPS to record its position.  All in all our first day in the field was both very exciting and productive, helping us to gain a better understanding of the site of Jezreel.

Stonehenge at Jezreel? No, it's modern art.

Archaeology students dig at New Harmony, IN

USI's excavation at New Harmony has been featured on the local news.  UE archaeology majors Lydia Maurice and Alyssa Reynolds are participating in the excavation this season.  Check it out!

Majors' Summer Plans

The Department of Archaeology and Art History is pleased to announce the summer plans of its majors, which include participation in archaeological excavations, museum internships, volunteer positions, and employment in the US and abroad.

Megan Anderson – Jezreel Expedition, Israel

Nate Biondi – Jezreel Expedition, Israel

Sarah Carlton – Jezreel Expedition, Israel

Josephine Curtis – Floor Staff Member, Children’s Museum of Evansville, IN

Emma Dunleavy – Jezreel Expedition, Israel

Elizabeth Frost – Excavations at Poggio Civitate (Murlo), Italy

Kelly Goodner – Jezreel Expedition, Israel

Brianne Harrell – Intern, Reitz Home Museum, IN

Molly Hodgen – Intern, Registrar’s Office, Evansville Museum, IN

Carly Herrud – Isles of Shoals Archaeology Project, ME

Carissa Kepner – Intern, Angel Mounds State Historic Site, IN

Michael Koletsos – Jezreel Expedition, Israel

Kaman Law – Staff Assistant and Acting Registrar, Evansville Museum, IN

Rachel Lawrence – Volunteer, Peoria Historical Society, IL

Lydia Maurice – USI’s New Harmony Excavations, IN

Emily Mella – Jezreel Expedition, Israel

Melanie Miller – Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance Project, Belize

Sami Miller – Excavations at Poggio Civitate (Murlo), Italy

Alyssa Reynolds – USI’s New Harmony Excavations, IN

Anna Salzman – Tour Guide, USS LST-325 Ship Memorial, IN

Hilda Torres – Jezreel Expedition, Israel

Hilary Waltz – Volunteer, Dubois County Museum, IN

Emily Williams – Volunteer, National World War I Museum, MO

Congratulations Class of 2012!

Eighteen UE students graduated with a BA in Archaeology, Art History, or Classics on May 5.  Congratulations to them all!: Michael Koletsos, Sarah Broderick, Rachel Lawrence, Kelly Goodner, Lizzie Bloemer, Justin Spicer, Lauren Weingart, Cynthia Torrez, Kaman Law, Elizabeth Bostelman, Josephine Curtis, Melanie Miller, Megan Anderson, Emma Dunleavy, Emily Mella, Leah Thomas, Nate Biondi and Anna Salzman. Five students graduate summa cum laude, four magna cum laude and two cum laude!

Archaeology and Art History Senior Emily Mella to Give Inaugural Senior Keynote Address at 2012 Commencement

The Department of Archaeology and Art History is very proud of archaeology, art history, and international studies major Emily Mella, who was chosen to give the first Senior Keynote Address at graduation this Saturday, May 5, 2012.  You can read more about Emily's record of service and scholarship at UE on this press release.  After participating in the Jezreel Expedition in Israel in June, Emily will enter the MA program in International Affairs at American University with a focus on the Middle East.  Congratulations, Emily!

Emily threatens a gladiator at Jerash during the summer 2011 UE faculty-led trip to Jordan.