Discovery in Israel
Discovery in Israel
Excavations at Caesarea, May 24 - June 16th, 2022
By: Psalm Delaney, Colorado College 2024
!שָׁלוֹם
This website serves as a showcase of invaluable memories and experiences from my opportunity to participate as a student archaeologist at the Caesarea Excavations led by Synoikisis, a consortium of Classics programs of which CC is a founding member.
About the Caesarea Excavations
As a member of the 2022 Caesarea Excavations team, I worked alongside student peers from across the United States under the instruction and guidance of Dr. Joseph Rife of Vanderbilt University and Dr. Kenny Morrell of Rhodes College to uncover and learn more about the ancient architecture and history of Caesarea. During King Herod's reign beginning in 37 BCE, he constructed the port city and a lavish palace off of the Mediterranean Coast. Our team was responsible for excavating domestic spaces near the city's temple mount. We lodged at the Sdot-Yam Kibbutz during the work week and embarked on exciting adventures across Israel during the weekends. For the purpose of protecting the confidentiality of the ongoing project, I am not permitted to share specific details or findings from the dig until they are published. Nevertheless, whether digging at Caesarea or exploring other sites across Israel, each day as a participant in the Caesarea Excavations ensured an unforgettable experience to uncover the history-rich soils and further contextualize the greater scope of the ancient world. The rest of this web source aims to illustrate the remarkability of the trip through a photo journal of my travels through Israel when away from the dig site.
Much Gratitude
This trip would not have been possible if not for my advisor Dr. Sanjaya Thakur, the Classics department at CC (Classics Department Hartwell Fund), and the Eta Sigma Phi Honorary Society for Classical Studies (H.R. Butts Scholarship for Fieldwork in Classical Archaeology). I extend many thanks to Dr. Joseph Rife who was the director of the Caesarea Excavation and to Dr. Kenny Morrell who led the archival processes of the site artifact collection. Each of these individuals, teams, and organizations have made a resounding impact on my educational, professional, and personal journey as I pursue a career in Title I public K12 education as a Latin and English teacher. I am filled with utmost gratitude to have been provided this opportunity and to be able to share these experiences in my future classrooms to forge new paths of inquiry, innovation, and excellence for all students through Classical studies.
Psalm Delaney is a junior at Colorado College pursuing a double major in Classics and Education. Upon graduating with her teaching licensure, she intends to apply her training in, and passion for, classical languages and K12 education in order to rekindle Latin language instruction in public middle and high schools.
CONTACT
For any questions or comments about this experience, please reach out via email or LinkedIn!