Digging Mt Zion: An Opportunity and A Challenge
June 4, 2008
One of the fields that has become absolutely pivotal for historical work on early Christianity is archaeology–in other words, the material evidence of our human pasts. I was trained at the University of Chicago as a textual scholar, but as all of my readers know, about 20 years ago I began to involve myself in field archaeological work in Israel and Jordan. The insights that this field of study and inquiry have added to my own understanding of our ancient texts would be hard to overestimate.
I leave next week to participate in what I think might be one of the most fascinating and potentially important excavations conducted in recent times in Jerusalem–namely the “Dig Mount Zion” Project that Dr. Shimon Gibson has inaugurated just outside the present Turkish Old City Wall. It is an honor to work with such a respected, experienced, and skilled archaeologist, and Gibson has assembled a marvelous professional team under the sponsorship of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In Herodian/Roman Jerusalem this was “center-city,” and two seasons of work have put us just above well preserved remains from the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Our summer dig season runs for six weeks, June 13 through July 30th. We have scores of volunteers, or “team members,” from all over the world signed up to participate but if any of you are interested and able to move quickly we still have spaces for more at some of our sessions. You can check our Dig Mount Zion Web site for full details.
Whether you can come or not this season you can participate in a most significant way by joining our special Mount Zion June Fund Drive
Like many other archaeological digs in the region, our expedition has been successful in receiving funding from donors and corporate sponsors. However, to complete our funding for our 2008 work we have an immediate need of $63,000 for additional operational costs.
Political candidates have recently demonstrated that millions of dollars can be raised directly through the Internet by grassroots supporters who give amounts averaging $25 to $100. Most archaeological projects are seeking funding and constantly appeal to major donors and foundations for support, and we have been doing this as well. However, many people are not aware of the fact that they could play a vital part by donating smaller sums as well. Hence, we decided to take our needs directly to you and to ask if you might be willing to donate. We just inaugurated this Fund Drive yesterday and there is a Bar Graph that shows our progress. We invite each of you to help us move it all the way to our Goal.
Contributions for this Special Fund Drive go directly to The Foundation for Biblical Archaeology. TFBA, founded and directed by President Sheila Bishop, is our North Carolina based agent and long-term trusted partner. Ms. Bishop has earned the trust of the entire archaeological community in Israel and Jordan by her dedication to supporting and reviving Biblical Archaeology. Most Foundations charge overhead fees of 10-20% to handle and disburse funds, but TFBA is as committed to this Project as we all are, and delivers 100% of donations directly to the field for our expenditures. All contributions are tax-deductible and receipts and financial accounting is provided by TFBA in partnership with the sponsor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
All archaeological projects require funds to cover the operational costs for the dig itself; conservation of structural walls; scientific tests (radiocarbon-dating, animal-bone and plant examinations, flotation, etc.); post-dig research (sorting of finds, drawing of artifacts, coin cleaning and identification, drafting of site plans, etc.); and publication (printing and distribution costs). At this stage we are looking for additional help for the operational stage.
Please make your contribution of any amount today! The money you contribute will go directly to our operational costs without delay or overhead costs. You can use any major credit card or Pay Pal. Visit Mt Zion Donations and make a secure donation now. If you prefer a check mail it to TFBA/Mt Zion Project, P.O. Box 1553, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1553 (Made to TFBA, marked Mt Zion). We thank you!
For more information, an informative video and lots more photos see our Web site: or contact Prof. James D. Tabor (jdtabor@uncc.edu) 704-687-2783.