Rochelle Miller of 5 Towns Jewish Times has published a profile of Bar-Ilan University’s Prof. Aren Maeir and his archeological work as the director of the Tell es-Safi/Gath excavation. The profile examines Prof. Maeir’s work at Tell es-Safi, his role at Bar-Ilan, and his background.
Photo courtesy 5 Towns Jewish Times
Sifting Through The Sands Of Time With The “Jewish Indiana Jones”
by Rochelle Miller
April 12, 2019
5 Towns Jewish Times
The ruins of the Biblical city of Gath can be found inside Tel Zafit, an Israeli national park, where it has become a major archaeological site. Since 1996, Aren Maeir, professor of archaeology at Bar Ilan University, has been the director of the Tell es-Safi/Gath excavation. Among the remarkable findings dug up by Professor Maeir and his team are a Philistine Temple, the remains of a Crusader-era castle, and myriad ritual items dating back to the Iron Age.
Professor Maeir’s archaeological expertise has earned him the nickname of “Israel’s Indiana Jones.” Prior to Gath, he directed excavations and surveys in Israel, including Jerusalem, Hazor, Yoqneam, Tel Qasile, and Beth-Shean. He has authored more than 100 scholarly articles on archaeology as well as several books. Moreover, his blog gets hundreds of hits each day from people who are curious about the secrets unraveled by archaeology, particularly in Israel, a region rich in archaeological sites. A world-renowned scholar, he has unearthed a remarkable collection of ancient pottery and other artifacts dating back 3,000 years, many of which are on exhibit in his department of Land of Israel Studies at Bar Ilan.
Read the full profile (PDF file, opens in a new tab/window)
