Some summer excavations in Israel have already begun, and many more will commence within the next month. Five excavations began yesterday or today: Tel Burna, Kefar HaHoresh, Khirbet Qeiyafa, Wadi Hamam, and Tel Gezer.
Three more excavations hit the field next week: Tel Hazor, Tel Kabri, and Khirbet Summeily. Those beginning in late June or early July include: Tel Dor, Tel Megiddo East, Tell es-Safi (Gath), Tel Akko, and Hippos-Sussita. Two teams wait until the heat of the summer before getting underway, but both are located next to the beach: Yavneh-Yam and Apollonia-Arsuf.
If you want to volunteer for a dig but cannot participate in the summer or for a lengthy duration, you might consider two year-round operations: Temple Mount Sifting Project and the Dig-for-a-Day program at Maresha (Bet Guvrin).
Last year we published a list of blogs reporting from the excavations and we may prepare another one for this year. (Any tips on such blogs are appreciated.)
The following list is organized chronologically and based upon dates given at the Find a Dig site, published by the Biblical Archaeology Society.
2011 Excavations Already Concluded
Tamar (Mezad Hazeva): February 20 – March 8, 2011; May 9 – May 22, 2011
Tel Gezer Water System Project: May 21 – June 11, 2011
Khirbet el-Maqatir: May 21 – June 4, 2011
2011 Excavations Presently Underway
Tall Jalul (in Jordan): May 3 – June 17, 2011
Tiberias: May 22 – June 17, 2011
Bethsaida: May 22 – June 25, 2011
Ashkelon: June 5 – July 15, 2011
Tel Burna: June 12 – June 30, 2011
Kefar HaHoresh: June 12 – July 7, 2011
Khirbet Qeiyafa: June 12 – July 22, 2011
Wadi Hamam: June 13 – July 15, 2011
Tel Gezer: June 13 – July 15, 2011
2011 Excavations Not Yet Begun
Tel Hazor: June 19 – July 29, 2011
Tel Kabri: June 19 – July 28, 2011
Khirbet Summeily: June 20 – July 20, 2011
Tel Dor: June 28 – August 5, 2011
Tel Dor 2: June 28 – August 6, 2011
Tel Megiddo East: July 2 – 28, 2011
Tell es-Safi (Gath): July 3 – 29, 2011
Tel Akko: July 3 – July 29, 2011
Hippos-Sussita: July 3 – 30, 2011
Yavneh-Yam: July 18 – August 12, 2011
Apollonia-Arsuf: August 1 – September 11, 2011
Long-running excavations not in the field this year include Megiddo, Tel Rehov, and Dan.
3 thoughts on “2011 Summer Excavation Schedule”
Also check out the Tel el-Hesi Project dig at Summeily
http://130.18.228.15/Hesi/hesialt/index.html
starting on June 20th.
Khirbet Qeiyafa actually started on June 12th (Sunday). The Friday start date must have been a typo. KQ's official site (http://qeiyafa.huji.ac.il/logistics.asp) has the correct dates.
I will be joining the excavation at Qeiyafa in July. You included my blog in last year's list and may do so again if you wish.
Luke and Tim – thanks for this information. I have updated the post to reflect your comments and corrections.