General Info
The fourth season of the Tell el-Badawiya/Hannathon Archaeological Project will run from 1 to 27 August 2026.
Our objectives for the upcoming season are as follows:
(1) Expose domestic remains from the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian periods on the mound’s northern summit (Area A).
(2) Explore a Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age destruction layer revealed on the mound’s eastern slope, and examine the possibility of a city gate at this location (Area B).
(3) Investigate the stratigraphic sequence of the mound’s summit, where a fortified compound from the Late Iron Age and Persian period may have been located (Area D).
Scroll down for the Excavation Fee and Academic Credit Points
The Team Member Guide for the 2026 Season
Accommodation
During the field season, we will stay at Kibbutz Hanaton, a beautiful kibbutz near Tell el-Badawiya. All the rooms are fully air-conditioned and have a private bathroom.
Food and Drinks
During regular working days, three meals are provided (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Vegetarian dishes are available, but let us know if you are vegetarian or have other dietary concerns. Israel’s tap water is safe and potable. Note that participants are responsible for providing their own morning snacks before heading to the fieldwork.
- Breakfast is provided every work day on site (i.e., Sunday to Thursday). It includes a dairy buffet bar (e.g., eggs, sandwiches, vegetables, yogurt, cereal, or fruit).
- Lunch is also provided every work day (i.e., Sunday to Thursday). It is the main daily meal. A typical lunch consists of a chicken, or a vegetarian substitute, hot vegetables like green beans, corn, or carrots, potatoes or rice, bread, and cold salads (cabbage, cucumber, and tomato, humus, etc.).
- Dinner is provided five days a week—Saturday night to Wednesday night. It is a lighter meal than lunch including, for example, soups, salads, cold meats or a vegetarian dish, etc.
Alcoholic beverages are permitted on the premises. However, we remind all participants that you are expected to take care of your own physical well-being—this means staying well-hydrated and not drinking alcohol such that it impairs the ability to work. Please also note that smoking is prohibited in all of the buildings and is only allowed in designated outdoor spaces. We specifically request that you take care to not leave behind cigarette butts anywhere on the grounds and only use proper disposal containers.
Swimming Pool
Entrance to the kibbutz’s swimming pool, located a short distance from the accommodation, will be possible in the afternoon.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 04:45 | Suggested wake-up time |
| 05:30 – 09:00 | Fieldwork (survey/excavation) |
| 09:00 – 09:45 | Breakfast on site |
| 09:45 – 11:30 | Fieldwork (survey/excavation) |
| 11:30 – 11:45 | Fruit break |
| 11:45 – 13:15 | Fieldwork (survey/excavation) |
| 13:45 – 14:15 | Lunch |
| 14:15 – 16:15 | Free time |
| 16:15 – 19:00 | Afternoon work / Workshop |
| 18:30 | Dinner |
| 20:00 | Evening Lecture / Free time |
| 21:00 | End of the day |
Educational Program
| Time | Week | Activity | description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun. | 1 | Lecture | Introduction to the Excavation Season |
| Mon. | 1 | Workshop | Beginners: Registration and Dairy Advanced: Database Management |
| Tue. | 1 | Workshop | Beginners: Pottery Sorting Advanced: Creating Typologies |
| Wed. | 1 | — | Free Afternoon |
| Sun. | 2 | Lecture | Urban Development in the Ancient Near East during the Bronze Age |
| Mon. | 2 | Workshop | Beginners: Dumpy Levels Advanced: Total Station and RTK |
| Tue. | 2 | Workshop | Beginners: Grid, Section, and Stratigraphy Advanced: 3D Photorealistic Modelling |
| Wed. | 2 | — | Free Afternoon |
| Sun. | 3 | Lecture | Mid-Season Summary |
| Mon. | 3 | Workshop | Beginners: Registration and Dairy Advanced: Database Management |
| Tue. | 3 | Workshop | Beginners: Pottery Sorting Advanced: Creating Typologies |
| Wed. | 3 | — | Free Afternoon |
| Sun. | 4 | Lecture | Mortuary Practices in the Ancient Near East during the Bronze Age |
| Mon. | 4 | Workshop | Beginners: Dumpy Levels Advanced: Total Station and RTK |
| Tue. | 4 | Workshop | Beginners: Grid, Section, and Stratigraphy Advanced: 3D Modelling |
| Wed. | 4 | Lecture | Summary of the 2026 Excavation Season |
Excavation Fee and Academic Credit Points
All participants in the excavation are eligible for The Field Techniques in Archaeology course with no extra cost, pending the submission of a report at the end of the excavation session (detailed instructions will be provided in the field). This course offers hands-on training in the methods and practices of modern field archaeology, with a focus on Near Eastern archaeology. It emphasizes developing core skills required for stratigraphic excavation and technical recording, ensuring students can engage with archaeological data professionally. Beyond fieldwork, students will explore the research questions and excavation strategies unique to Tell el-Badawiya/Hannathon. This holistic approach enables the participants to contextualise their on-site work, understand its relevance, and contribute to broader archaeological inquiry.
What to Bring? Suggested Equipment for Fieldwork by Our Staff Member Juliane Stein
When your alarm goes off at 4:15 in the morning and you get ready for a day in the field, the first thing besides brushing your teeth should be to cover yourself in thick layers of sunscreen (recommended are SPF 30+).
The outfit of the day should include light, breathable clothes you can move freely while working on the site. Some prefer short pants and no sleeves; some prefer long ones for protection from the sun and all sorts of scratchy plants (for the survey we recommended to come with long pants and shirt with long sleeves). However, your clothes will get dirty and sweaty (and covered in sunscreen), so bring a few sets to last till the next laundry day. For people who get cold very easily, an additional sweater or thin jacket comes in handy during the chilly mornings until the sun is up. Before you rush to the bus to the field, make sure to tie your sturdy closed shoes (e.g., trekking shoes) that give you ankle support in case you trip over a stone or someone drops a full dirt bucket on your toes. Also, don’t forget your hat or any other head coverage because heat strokes are no fun also, when we excavate under tent shades (most used are bucket hats, caps, bandanas, scarfs, everything goes, but hats with large brims, tend to fly off with the wind).
Grab your water bottle before you fly out of the door because we provide you with unlimited free refills from our water containers on the site (which also helps you track the amount of water you drink, so always stay hydrated!). We provide you with all the necessary tools and equipment on the site. Still, sometimes it’s nicer to have your own trowel, fitting gloves, and knee pads. Some people also like to bring electrolyte drinks or powders in their water bottles.
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
Health, Wellness, and Medical Insurance
Should you become ill during the season, you must notify the staff. Your health and safety is our primary concern. All the participants must provide the directors with proof of medical insurance valid for travel to Israel. All medical costs incurred are the responsibility of the participants. You should bring all prescription drugs that you anticipate will be necessary. The pharmacies in Israel are well-stocked and you may purchase any over-the-counter medications you might need. But, because of our schedule, it will usually be inconvenient for you to get to a pharmacy. The two most common ailments in the course of a season are cough and diarrhea (until your system adjusts to the food and water), so we suggest that you bring cough and cold medicine and diarrhea medicine with you. Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) or acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) can also come in handy.
There are clinics in several nearby towns for non-emergent medical problems (e.g., you get strep throat and need antibiotics). Tourists typically have to pay upfront to see the on-call doctor there and then, according to the instructions of your particular insurance, you will need to submit your payment information to your insurer for reimbursement. The cost can start from a couple hundred dollars and changes based on the situation, x-ray, lab test, etc. You may want to bring a credit card or extra cash that you save if such a need arises. Please review your insurance policy and remember that you must have insurance that is valid for travel in Israel–so you will know what to do if you need it. We hope to never use them, but in cases of complex injury or illness, we are located only a short drive from state-of-the-art hospitals in Afula. Except in cases of genuine medical emergency, the project cannot provide transportation to doctors, hospitals or pharmacies, or to banks or other local facilities.