Beit Lehi / Beit Loya: A night on the site - Exploring Beit Lehi/Loya
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
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
The circular structure continued to be a mystery. What first appeared to be cover stones to cover bodies, later appeared to be the ceiling, which had come down (spoiler alert: it did). Bucket after bucket-full of dirt kept coming out, and we were nowhere near the bottom. Oren Gutfeld, the site's Archaeologist, examining the site. EXPLORING TIME One of the greatest parts of the site, is that there are things EVERYWHERE to explore! Take for instance this inconspicuous small fig tree. It doesn't look like much, until you realize this is only the tip of a TALL tree growing out of a hidden columbarium. Columbarium, or dove cotes are niches carved into the soft rock, allowing a pair of doves per hole. The odd thing about this columbarium, was that the dove-cotes were square, as opposed to the usual triangular niches. This appeared to be a triangular niche for lights(?) "JUST" ANOTHER COLUMBARIUM "JUST" ANOTHER BURIAL CHAMBER Turtle shell. I don'...
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.
Some of the members of our group attempted to visit the Garden Tomb . If you're not familiar with this place, it is very sacred. The members of our group were unable to attend, due to the place closing, but after a short argument, were allowed to come back the following day and help clean the grounds. While this might not seem like a good compromise, to be able to spend the quiet hours of the morning, preparing it for the spiritual experiences awaiting those who were to come, was indeed a special experience. The experience was so unique, and the work was a blessing. The Garden Tomb in the morning hours A familiar sacred symbol
Comments
Post a Comment