Beit Lehi / Beit Loya: A night on the site - Exploring Beit Lehi/Loya
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Members of the archeological team that wanted, could camp on the site.
The evening camp
This gave Dallin and I the opportunity to do some late night exploring. As of yet, I hadn't taken him to the main Beit Lehi site we'd visited in 2012. We took the afternoon and explored this site.
The Idumean temple walls
A sacred mikvah (ritual bath)
Massive oil presses
There's something about this room...
The outer room...
The inner room...
There's just something about it. I want to go back and explore further.
THE BYZANTINE CHAPEL
To my surprise, as I led Dallin to the beautiful Byzantine church, with its mosaic floors, I sensed him stop. I turned to see him staring at the floors. He was clearly having a surreal experience. I walked away to let him have this moment. I have a video of the event, but it's too personal to share. It wasn't until later when I found him sitting in a stairwell, that I realized he was overwhelmed (positively) with the experience.
We climbed through the mikvahs and olive presses. Such an amazing place:
Note the chisel marks with which the creators formed these tunnels
Our third day brought an amazing opportunity. On the south-west outskirts of the settlement, was a round structure. Apparently, circular structures are either little-known, or nonexistent in Ancient Israel. Here was an opportunity to excavate an anomaly. The circular structure was approximately 13' (+/-) in diameter, with rectangular stones framing it. There is a sill with a channel carved into the center, the likes that have been seen in funeral tombs. The circular structure The sill Dallin digging out the circular structure Another friend Dirty Work Slightly less dirty...hmmm. AN ANCIENT QUARRY One of the areas of import, was a deep quarry. The photos of the quarry can't do it justice. At approximately 60' under the ground, it is an ominous room. The work ethic of those who created and drew from this quarry is beyond impressive.
On day four of the dig, one lucky team member discovered a unique find. Upon closer examination, it appeared as if it were an incense burner from the Idumean period. Archaeologist Michal Haber is pictured with President of the Beit Lehi Foundation, Alan Rudd. Alan inspects the incense burner. Lamp Perfume bottle Tear catcher, or perfume bottle.
In 2012, I met Oren Gutfeld's daughter Hila (Hope I spelled that right). She was much younger then! She brought her little sister to view the dig. I took a few moments to continue exploring the dig site. I am continuously amazed at how much un-excavated finds are here to be explored.
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