Call for Volunteers
Call for Volunteers –January-February 2019
This season will be directed by Dr. Gideon Hadas & Dr. Orit Peleg of the Archaeological Institute, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
We start our new season of excavations at Ein-Gedi in January2018. This season will last 4 weeks and we expect 20 volunteers for each week, each staying for a minimum of one week.
The sunny winter months at this lowest point on earth reach 18–20 degrees centigrade, making work outdoors especially attractive at a time of year when most of Europe and North America is freezing cold.
Please put the Ein Gedi Oasis Excavations in your calendar. We look forward to your joining us for a new season of exploration and revealing another hidden part of Ein-Gedi’s past.
The nature of the work
Archaeological work, though not easy, is both stimulating and great fun, and affords an opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Much of the work entails clearing rocks, soil, and debris with shovels, buckets, and wheelbarrows; however, the human occupation levels are carefully dug and sifted with the aid of smaller, more delicate tools. Other than this, there is also plenty of washing and registration of pottery to be done.
No prior background is required, though all volunteers should be in good physical health and of good cheer. There is no age limit – we have teenagers working alongside octogenarians, and all ages in between.
Dates and work schedule
The 2019 season will be held from January 13thto February 7thinclusive.
Minimum participation: 1 week. Fieldwork is conducted from Mondays through Thursdays, from 7.00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. In the evenings there are often lectures and presentations about the history and archaeology of the area and previous seasons of our excavations.
Fridays and weekends are free. Optional after-work activities includes wimming in the Dead Sea, walking through the oasis, socialising with old and new friends among the volunteers or just relaxing and enjoying the landscape – the most beautiful in the world, in my prejudiced opinion!
Accommodation
1. Ein-Gedi Youth Hostel on the shore of the Dead Sea, a short walk from the excavation site
Please approach Rachel (excavation camp manager), by the reception desk on Sunday afternoon upon your arrival to the Youth hostel.
Pay attention – we have only 6 rooms and expecting for up to 20 volunteers per a week, therefore we cannot obtain single room, unless there will less volunteers.
Each room has 3 or 4 beds (the 4th one is upper one), a toilet, a shower, 1-2 wash-basins and most have a small private terrace with a glorious view of the Dead Sea. An electric kettle is provided in each room.
Rooms must be vacated early Thursday morning. Luggage may be stored in designated rooms over the weekend.
Participation costs include room per a day: a single volunteer will pay 80$, a couple in a room, each will pay 45$; three volunteers 35$, four 30$. Breakfast 15$, lunch/dinner 20$.
Weekends(Friday–Sunday morning). Volunteers wishing to remain at the Youth Hostel over the weekend will make arrangements at the Youth Hostel:
Tel. 972-2-5945681; Fax. 972-8-658-4445 ; eingedy@iyha.org.il
2. Those wishing to set up their own tent will participate in the cost of meals.
3. Ein-Gedi Hotel –Accommodation can be arranged by:
Tel. 972-8-6594222; Fax. 972-8-6584328; Yoellal@ein-gedi.co.il
Please note that the Kibbutz Hotel is some distance from the excavation site. Transport is not provided.
Food
Breakfast will served on the site, among the date palms, Lunch at the Kibbutz dining hall, a hot dinner in the Youth Hostel dining hall in the evening (open only when they will have groups).
Transportation
Volunteers arriving at Ben-Gurion Airport may reach the Ein Gedi Youth Hostel as follows:
1. Bus line (No. 485) from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem on any round hour at all hours of the day departs from Terminal 3.
2. From Jerusalem, buses leave for Ein-Gedi Youth Hostel (No. 486, 487). Duration of the whole journey: about 1 hour to Jerusalem + over 1 hour to Ein Gedi.
Registration
Please return the completed application form, together with a non-refundable registration fee* of 35$ (or your local equivalent) in cash or by personal cheque, payable to “Israel Exploration Society, Ein-Gedi Oasis Excavations directed by Gideon Hadas” no later than December 13, 2018.
Eurocheques, bank cheques, money orders, and bank transfers are not accepted.
In order to avoid confusion and to ensure your accommodations, we stress that your registration fee & application form must arrive by mail or Email before your arrival at the excavation. (Dr. Gideon Hadas, Kibbutz Ein-Gedi, Mobile Post Dead Sea 86980, Israel).
*Returning volunteers are exempt from the registration fees.
Notification of Change of Plans:Please adhere to the dates for which you are registered. Any change in plans, including cancellations, arrival before Sunday afternoon, or arrival late at night, must immediately be brought to my attention: Gideon Hadas (E-mail: gideonhadas@gmail.com; fax: 972-8-6584384. Failure to notify us will incur full payment of original reservation.
Mode of Payment.Payment for room and board will be made at the beginning of each week to Rachel, the camp manager, by cash, traveller’s cheque, or personal cheque payable to “Israel Exploration Society – Ein-Gedi Oasis Excavations directed by G. Hadas". Credit cards will not be accepted.
Health and Accident Insurance
All volunteers must arrange their own medical and accident insurance, valid in Israel, in advance for the duration of their stay at the excavation.Proof of insurance must be provided to the Excavation before you are allowed to participate. This must cover illness or injuries connected with archaeological excavations by the Dead Sea.
Safety
According to the Hebrew University instructions each volunteer have to sign on
SUMMARY OF RISKS AND WORK SAFETY GUIDELINES AT AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE that will be given to him before entering the site.
Updated Sept. 2018