A Dig at Zippori

During my two month visit to Israel, I participated in four archaeological digs, at Gezer, Tel Hadid, Zippori and at Tel Dan. My favorite experience was the work at Zippori.

Arches Reservoir at Zippori

Zippori was the capital city of Galilee in the first century AD. It is located a few miles from Nazareth, and many feel that Joseph the father of Jesus worked on government projects at Zippori.

Merchants sidewalk along main street

The cardo of this city is amazing. It is actually two roads that cross each other at the main intersection. Buildings have been recovered along both roads.

Site map of Zippori

The city also contains amazing mosaics. Some are located in what is called the Nile house.

Centar at the Nile House

Other mosaics can be found at the Dionysus House.

Mona Lisa of Galilee

There is also an amazing mosaic in the Synagogue.

Mosaic on the floor of the Synagogue

We worked at the first century water project. This is a cistern that held water that flowed down hill from spring along the Nazareth ridge.

Nazareth Ridge above Zippori

There are actually two cisterns. The first was untouched since the first century.

Arches Reservoir at Zippori

The second was developed into a wine press.

First view of the Arches Reservoir

Wine was stomped at one end of the cistern

First view of the Arches Reservoir

It flowed into a mikvah that was more than seven feet deep.

Shade tarp over the Arches Reservoir

There was also a stone reception area with pavers.

Measuring the Mikvah

We helped excavate the mikvah area.

Debris and stones above the Mikvah

It started by clearing roofing members which fell. The roof was a system of arches and coverings to keep the water in the dark until it was needed.

Digging Team at Zippori

We hauled lots of dirt out of the system, and also rocks. We found coins, pottery and other items as we dug.

Pottery found during our dig at Zippori

We worked with several archeologists who taught us about the site. They showed us the difference between first and second century plaster, as well as showing us areas of the cistern (structure) that was not plastered.

Filling dirt buckets at Zippori

I have included some stories from the hills of Galilee in my new book, Israel:Stories for Your Journey.

New book on Israel

Some of the places I visited during the two weeks of my tour were places I visited before, but since I helped plan the tour, there were some new places also.

Two Months in Israel

This year I had the privilege of spending two months in the land of Israel. The time was enjoyable and educational. While in the land I participated in a two week tour, four archaeological digs and also wandered various historic sites, shopping areas, recreational parks and various places to eat.

Some of the places I visited during the two weeks of my tour were places I visited before, but since I helped plan the tour, there were some new places also.

The Archaeological site at Shilo

One of the places I looked forward to seeing was Shilo, the site where Joshua set up the Tabernacle and where young Samuel heard the voice of the Lord. The Tabernacle is long gone, but the hills still stand at this site, the ruins have been made visible and the stories about Israel’s place of worship are still remembered.

A cave sits below the place of the Tabernacle at Shilo

One of the things I personally was interested in was the road that led to Shilo. I wrote about the trip of Joseph and Mary in my book Advent Journeys. I was pleased to see it was like the pictures I researched for the book. The site of Shilo was interesting also.

Baha'i Gardens in Haifa with the port area below

A second new place I visited was Haifa. I visited the Baha'i Gardens, hiked the Haifa Trail, ate great food at the top of the hill, and looked down at the great harbor below. The gardens were beautiful and very well kept. I walked down the 750 steps in the garden, and walked up the alternate trail that led back to the top of the hill. I enjoyed swimming at the beach.

The house in the Church of the Annunciation at Nazareth

I participated in archaeological digs at Tel Gezer, Tel Hadid, Zippori, and at Tel Dan. Zippori was the most interesting dig, and I will write about that in another post. While at Zippori I visited the Church of the Annunciation. The sanctuary is beautiful. The small house in the church as well as Joseph’s carpentry shop in the basement of another church are both interesting.

Kurlander Dairy in Northern Israel

I spent about ten days near Tel Dan and enjoyed the beautiful countryside in Northern Israel. While there I took a long hike a Banias and saw the waterfalls. I also entered Dan at the Canaanite Gate, visited Kerlander Dairy, Hermon Field School and various restaurants and shopping centers in the area.

Digging in Zippori

Yesterday, today and tomorrow’s activity involved investigating a first century water system. We are concluding a dig on a cistern in order to determine the flow of water.

Cistern Archaeology Project at Beginning

The town of Tsippori originated in the fourth century BC (or maybe before) on a high hilltop which offered both protection and a great view. The name Tsippori means “Bird,” perhaps, as the Talmud suggests, because it was "perched on the top of a mountain, like a bird.” (Megillah, 6, 81)

Looking across Galilee, as a Bird

The city was very strong, and for this reason it became a regional capital. According to Josephus, Tsippori was called the "glory of the entire Galilee."

Mosaic walkways in the market in Zippori

When Herod's son, Herod Antipas was made tetrarch, he made Sippori the capital of all of Galilee, and began a huge building project.

Mosaic floors from homes in Sepphoris

It might have been at this time the cistern where we are working was created as a resigour along the aqueduct from water sources around the Nazareth Mountains.

Information sign for the Cistern

The population was mixed, but mostly gentiles.

Mosaics from homes in Tsippori

The city is laid out in a typical Roman pattern with wide north-south and east-west cardios. There is a large shopping complex where the main roads cross.

Walking on the old Roman Cardio

The homes in Sepphoris were quite ornate and featured mosaic floors.

Mosaic Mona Lisa of the Galilee

A small Jewish area is located near the top of the hill,

Jewish Neighborhood in Zippori

It features mikvah pools, which tell of its Jewish character.

Looking at a Mikvah Pool

The Sanhedrin met here for a time after the destruction of the Temple.

Bird's Eye View of Jewish Neighborhood, Mount Carmel in background

Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi transferred the seat of the Sanhedrin from Bet She'arim to Tsippori, and around 220 CE he completed the Mishna in the city.

Synagogue Mosaic

The Synagogue of the city saw several renovations over the years. The mosaic floor of the fifth century Synagogue is enclosed with a multimedia presentation. It contains scenes from Bible stories, priestly offerings and a zodiac diagram.

Cistern Project this evening, compare for progress

Our work on the water cistern has made huge strides in the past few days.

Tour Group from Georgia that helped us dig

We have found pottery, old nails, roof tiles, some Roman glass, and old coins.

One of the coins found at Tsippori

The archaeological dig was productive and enjoyable.

The Place of the Angelic Announcement

Today we changed jobs and moved to a new location in Israel. Part of our dig team is now working at a first century water project in Sippori (more about this tomorrow). We are staying in Nazareth.

A view of the altar and old house at the Church of the Annunciation

Sipori and Nazareth are three to four miles apart. It is thought that Joseph walked from his home in Nazareth to work on a government building project in Sippori. Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55 list Joseph as a carpenter (τέκτων, a craftsman, or workman).

The Church of the Annunciation in Nazaretth

All four gospels list Nazareth as the place where Jesus grew up. This is the city where Joseph and Mary lived at the time they were engaged to be married. They lived in this city until the time Jesus became active in ministry and moved to Capernaum.

Our hotel in Nazareth

Nazareth was the village where Matthew and Luke report an angel came to Mary with the announcement that she would have a child given by God. The angel also came to Joseph and told him not to divorce his espoused wife for the baby was from God.

The second floor of the Church of the Annunciation

The Church of the Annunciation, which was built in Nazareth in the fifth century, celebrates the announcements of the Angel to both Mary and Joseph to tell them of the miraculous birth.

The altar with an old house where Mary lived

The Church of the Annunciation contains what is reputed to be the home of Mary within the building.

The place of worship at the Church of the Annunciation

The house sits behind the altar on the first floor of the church, The house, built in ancient times, is impressive to see within the modern church building. One room can be visibly seen with a staircase leading up to a second leve. The house can also be viewed from the second floor of the church where there is a circular opening with a railing around it in middle of the chapel. There was a mass on the second floor, and the choir could be heard during my visit to the chapel on the first floor.

The Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth

The Church of St. Joseph sits behind the Church of the Annunciation, and is said to contain ruins of Joseph’s Carpenter shop. Indeed there is a shop with seven steps down, to what is reputed to be a carpenter’s shop.

A picture in the church of St. Joseph

This is the place where Jesus spent his childhood. He was raised as a normal child and probably served in an apprenticeship to his father.

The archeological ruins under the Church of St. Joseph

The first several years of Jesus’ career were spent as a carpenter, possibly in Sippori.

Explaining the Carpenter Shop

There are ruins of what is reported to e the carpentry shop of Joseph in the basement of Joseph’s church. The diagram shows the seven steps down to the shop, the mosaics in the shop and other features. Because of the original rock surface left around the house, one can almost imagine the boy Jesus, playing and working at the site.

Statue of Joseph and Jesus

The churches were not crowded with people when we visited, but the streets were full of people and pigeons.

A plaza in Nazareth with the church in view

The ancient village is now a city which is crowded by people, but within the Church of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph the narrative of this place where Jesus grew from a young boy to a man can still be seen and understood.