uncovering ancient Jerusalem
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A Day on the Dig

Follow Herbert W. Armstrong College students as they experience a typical day on the Ophel Excavation.

51 Comments

  1. Username* says:

    Thank you for posting the videos. It is wonderful to be able to see how things are progressing and what a day is like on the dig.

  2. susan garcia says:

    With everybody working so eagerly and orderly alot must get done in one day. Thank you for being there for us and being such diligent ambassadors. It is very moving and I am grateful to be apart of it.

  3. longchamp says:

    I enjoyed reading your nice blog. I see you offer priceless info. Congratulations, and keep posting to us. Do have some sort of email system where your blog posts emailed to me?

    • Rachel Dattolo says:

      You may subscribe to our RSS feed by clicking “Entries RSS” under the Admin subhead at the bottom of the site.

  4. Username* says:

    I am blown away with the quality of videos and articles you continue to share with all of us! Thank you all for your hard work, it is so exciting to be able to get a little taste of what is happening over there! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!

  5. Natasha says:

    Loved the video. Always praying for you guys. More of God’s royal treasures will surely arise with such a great team. Keep it up.

  6. mtntahr says:

    This video really stirred excitement deep inside me. Thank you so much for the effort you are all putting in and that which goes into preparing the updates. The work looks like it provides many challenges which makes the end result that much more rewarding I’m sure. Seeing the actual work in progress makes me want to be there in amongst the action all the more. You don’t happen to need a surveyor by chance Dr Mazar? – ha ha!! I’m sure happy for those who have commented that they are going to be able to come over there very soon to be with you all and see the excavations first hand. What an awesome opportunity!

    I have a question that maybe someone could answer for me if you have time. It appears that sometimes you’re breaking up big stones or even parts of walls. I was wondering why that is when I thought the whole aim of these projects was to preserve the history. Is it because you’re removing some of the more “modern” construction to get to the older history underneath or are some of the structures just too unstable to remain standing? I look forward to being educated.

    Thanks again Dr Mazar for allowing those of us interested onlookers from around the world to almost feel right there by being able to view progress on the site as it happens.

    • Brent Nagtegaal says:

      You hit the nail on the right on the head. The reason that we take down some walls is because they are on top of remains from an earlier period. We only will take down a wall if we know there is more ancient remains underneath. Archaeology can be quite destructive in that way. That’s why we measure, draw and photograph every wall that is removed. In this way, the knowledge and therefore the history of the later structures is preserved. Thanks for your question.

      • mtntahr says:

        Thanks for your reply Brent. I appreciate you taking the time to answer. Also sounds like there could be a chance for another surveyor being required – there might be hope for me yet – ha ha!! If only it were that simple!!

  7. Dan says:

    I just viewed the Video Documentary ” A Day on the Dig.” Not sure who is doing the video, but it sure looks like it was professionally produced. The framing, lighting, focus and color of each scene and the attention to detail was impressive. Amazing Amazing Amazing in every way and especially how much work and how much progress has been accomplished in 30 days!

  8. Liesl says:

    Firstly this is a wonderful website. Thanks for putting this video together. I felt like I was there with you all walking there in the morning and walking home at the end of the dig. Looks like hard, but rewarding work. What an amazing opportunity to be apart of such an exciting dig!!!

  9. francesbro3 says:

    Now I feel closer to understanding what takes place on such an important adventure as you are experiencing in person. Totally exciting and hard, hot work. But the reward is a lifetime of mmemories with which to fill your hearts. Thank you for all your service with love. You are all in my daily prayers and now in my memories as well.
    Take special care,
    Fran Brown
    GA

  10. Mary Ann says:

    What an amazing video! I too felt like I was sitting through a documentary of sounds, sights and smells. Keep up the great work and Thank you so much for sharing your step by step reports.

  11. Kishaw says:

    A truly wonderful website! A well filmed and presented video, it makes me want to be there. Keep up the hard work people as the stones really do cry out and the spade confirms the Word. Can’t wait to be there in a few short days for the Feast!

  12. Username* says:

    Im so glad I found this site by accident aswel! I was brought up in a kind of catholic enviroment,catholic school etc, but never really got that interested in the bible,basically cause it was hard to understand all the Latin words etc. I got myslef an international bible and love it,the history is amazing and the phrophecies that are happening and that have happened. I would love to go to Jerusalem to be able to touch where Jesus our king and king david have been. Thank you so much for opening my eyes and helping me choose life in a better and more rewarding way.

  13. Broderick says:

    Thank you! It is like watching a documentary. It is real. The viewer could feel the dust, the heat, the zeal, the fun and the hard work. Keep it up!

  14. Marilyn says:

    Thanks for sharing a day on the dig with us! It sure is hard, dusty, heavy work. Who gets to glue all those pieces of pottery together? You are all in our daily prayers, keep up the great work. Have a wonderful and exciting Holy Day season.

  15. Username* says:

    What an exciting work you are doing. Just the thought of being involved in something that proves the Bible is amazing beyond belief. We can hardly wait to see what is going to be revealed by this dig. Thank you so much for your hard work.

    J and D M

  16. cheryl cocomise says:

    What an impressive video and so professionally filmed! It really gave us a feel for what you are all experiencing
    there at the dig site. Keep up the awesome work. We are praying for a significant find.

  17. Russell says:

    This is truely an amazing video you could almost feel and smell the dust going on you. These are also very dedicated kids, I don’t remember getting up that early for anything. This also gave me better insight into all the hard work that goes into this all important project. Thanks for sharing.

  18. Melinda Brown says:

    Thank you for your time in making this video! I thoroughly enjoyed being walked through your day(s) on the dig. Very inspiring and especially uplifting on this Feast of Trumpets. We miss you all!

  19. Georgina says:

    Amazing to watch, thank you!! You are all working so hard over there. Keep up the good work! I am even more excited to be coming over in just a few days time for the Feast of Tabernacles and I look forward to seeing you all!

  20. m_burk says:

    The work appears more bru-tal, th(e)n? I would have thought.
    And, of course, my hat is off; to the men.. and ladies, too!

  21. Mailani says:

    What an inspiring video..Thank you so much.
    Every piece of dirt, rock, pepple matters. This
    gives me greater detail in refining my prayers.

  22. dkings7 says:

    alot of hard work with some motivated volunteers, and they happily sing along to the hot day jobs they do, cant be there to help but I can help by praying for all your safety and health, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, and my love to you all too

  23. Kurt Simmons says:

    For me, this has to be the coolest video so far. I would think one would need to keep the big picture in mind and have the proper outlook or the menial labor might become tedious. Thank you AC students and alumni for the work you are doing in uncovering valuable history in Jerusalem!

  24. John Blake says:

    It’s good to see you young people really learning such a godly work ethic. What an environment to do it in! What an inspirational work you are doing, thank you, JB

  25. Username* says:

    THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK,AND FOR TAKING US ON THIS JOURNEY,FELT LIKE I WAS THEIR WITH U,LETS ROCK AND GET THIS WORK DONE

  26. Tabitha says:

    Awesome! It’s so cool to get to see what’s going on at the dig site! It’s great to be able to see everyone and to have a rough idea of what your schedule is like so we can beat our prayers down fine. Keep up the good work! You’re all missed on campus, but you’re still inspiring us back home with the work you’re doing!

  27. Sandra Heyer says:

    What a wonderful video! it made me feel more thankful with God for the work there in Jerusalem, it is really, raising the ruins, digging and digging with sacrifice and dedication, it is a work of sacrifice, it is a work of living hope.
    Thank you to all of you for share with us a Day on the Dig, certainly, it gave me more details to pray about each one of you!

    Keep going! You are in our thoughts and prayers,

  28. christine_creager says:

    This was awesome to watch! We are so thankful to be helping Dr. Mazar like this. Please keep these videos coming, they are so inspiring!

  29. Luis Fernando Parra says:

    Qué emocionante saber que hay un pueblo de Dios trabajando en la Ciudad elegida por El y que está desempolvando la historia de los Reyes de Judá. Este detalle del video sirve para afinar nuestras oraciones.

    Gracias

  30. D.M says:

    Es emocionante ver como todos trabajan allí con tanto esfuerzo, dedicación, entusiasmo y amor por esta Obra de Dios. Se que Dios los protejera y les dará la fuerza y la valentía para continuar. ADELANTE Y ANIMO SOLDADOS!!!. Gracias por permitir que nos lleven hasta ese lugar por medio de las fotos y los videos, Gracias por permitir que seamos parte de ellos. Oramos por ustedes, Un abrazo grande desde Colombia.

  31. barb says:

    While watching this, could not help to think what God is thinking as He watches….angels too straining to see what all this will bring…just amazing! Many thanks to each of you, the hard work that is being done…we all anxiously await to see what God will allow to be found….our prayers and thoughts are with you all…

  32. Patricia Bylock says:

    This is definitely work for the young. Thank you Jerucrew for sharing what is taking place at the dig. I have a greater appreciation for your time and energy put into this exciting endeavor. I am sure you are in anticipation of what lies ahead and has yet to be discovered. Keep up the good work. We are all praying for this wonderful project. This is a once in a lifetime experience for you all.

  33. Brenda Muller says:

    Super cool, super awesome. Looks like hard work. Keep it up! Proud of you guys. Hope you have a joyous Feast of Trumpets.

  34. Bob Willingham says:

    We watched with excitement and enthusiasm! We each found our designated job, after squabbling over the position of sleeping on the chair. You worker-students make us proud! And Harley, you ought to be in the movies! Brent: we enjoy the write-ups and comments. Keep up the good work and team effort.

  35. Calvin Atkinson says:

    Well, I’ve been up for about two hours, and watching you guys has made me muscle sore & ready for a nap. Have a much better grasp of the kind of digging you’re doing now. Yes…..it really is work. Shalom & thanks again! 🙂

  36. Susan Woods says:

    Sure looks like hard work, but fun too! I love all the fellowshipping going on while everyone is digging. Everything is so orderly and everyone is happily working as a team. Onward Christian Soldiers. I was waiting for everyone to break out in song passing the buckets though. Thanks for a look into a day at the excavation! Be safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep up the great work!

  37. jerry holloway says:

    I like the video esp. the guy with with red suspenders going down the hole. The little bell signal the breaks begins and ended. Dr. Mazar and all the folks. Thank the sponsors too.

  38. @Davison_Leona says:

    Watching your video, one cannot help but ponder what it must be like there. And to get excited. Keep up the wonderful work.

  39. Username* says:

    Looks like you all have a lot of exciting, though very hard, work to do in a day. Watching your video cases me to ponder on what it is like there. Keep up the wonderful work.

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