Hey all, its time for another update. What have I been up to... well, I've found an archeological dig called Tell el-Hammam, and they are digging up the location believed by Dr. Collins to be the location of Sodom. Its amazing, it truly is! The dig site is just enormous, with such a large location. If this isn't Sodom, then as Dr. Collins says, "What is it?" because this is the largest location and we would have totally missed everything else. I'm impressed by the richness of the site, and it has just been rewarding.
Day One:
Dr. Collins located an early bronze age shaft tomb that had been robbed in modern times (1-2 years prior us getting there). Initially we didn't know what to think of it. Inside contained bones and broken pottery shards. Well on day one, I volunteered to go over there, with a tiny pick (piteat) and hoe (terea) we uncovered pottery pieces.
I found
- bones
- broken pottery shards
- and an oil burning lamp base
We also found:
- early and late bronze pottery
- the grave robbers pick. Haha!
- And about 20 different types of pottery
Day Two:
Today, we fully excavated the tomb. I got in it with Steve and dug out all the trash. The robbers dug into the tomb horizontally, but that wasn't it's actual entrance. We climbed ontop, probed around a bit, and finally broke through - locating the vertical entrance.
Inside I found bones, nothing significant, but I though I found a skull until it was realized, it was only a rock (bummer!).
The others found a scarab, egyptian which is amazing. The Jews when they were waiting to cross over the Jordan River, burried much of their dead in Shittim (they waited until everyone from the old generation died), which is where this site is. So, this tomb could have been reused and remember, the Jews "plundered Egypt" during the Exodus.
Day Three:
I worked moving dirt from one of the squares in Sodom. Moved a ton of dirt, trying to follow a stone wall. We believe that there were two Sodoms, an early bronze age one, and a middle bronze age one (everything is missing from late bronze and a gap of about 500 years exists before anything was rebuilt). Also, many of the locals believe this was Sodom.
I found a few pottery pieces, nothing significant, but it was great experience. Later, I helped to quickly remove dirt from the gate entrance. It wasn't straight, but more like a funnel. I was working so hard, i didn't realize that the car I was to ride back to Amman in had left without me. (THEY FORGOT!!! So they had to turn around, and come back for me.)
Day Four:
Been square hopping, and gaining experience, but I was drafted into the a dig square 30 meters to the north. Dr. David Graves and Dr. Scott Stripling have uncovered a Roman city, believed to be Livious (Livias) on the Sodom site. Its large, also the largest one in the area. The walls extend 35 meters wide, with four corners. This would make it the largest place here. Eye witness acounts and other texts have located this site near Sodom and Shittim and we believe its here.
Not all archeologists agree with our findings, but its very impressive and the community is looking at this site with great interest (though initially they believe Dr. Collins to having an agenda).
Another dig site on an adjacent tell (hill) a Greek team, has found the same things but on a smaller scale. We think they found Gomorrah. Its a hilltop away, and its a little smaller. Really fascinating. I'll post pictures later on facebook. Check em' out!
Later!
