Well, now your troubles are over. You can watch the Tell es-Safi/Gath Excavation in progress each day (Monday through Friday) at 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Sunday through Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. That is Israel time, which is 7 hours ahead of Eastern time in the USA.
In the Eastern time zone in the USA the live video feed may be seen from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Monday-Friday) and 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (Sunday-Thursday). Not the best times for the working American. But, what if it were the World Cup? Same response.
Well, I hope to catch the show beginning tonight at 11 p.m. I will get to watch those young college age volunteers wiping the matter from the corners of their eyes. This all reminds me of the conversations I have with my wife when I travel in Israel and she remains at home. I usually talk at 6 a.m., and she talks at 11 p.m. I say “Good Morning!” and she says “Goood Niighht…”.
Can’t make the show at all? Then go back to other exciting things like watching the second hand on your watch.
Seriously, this is a great thing. I suppose it is a first. Digging into the past streaming live. Dr. Aren Maeir, the director of the Tell es-Safi/Gath dig, keeps us updated on the progress of the dig.
Go to the Bar Ilan University web page and look for the banner about the streaming video here.
The direct URL to the feed is: http://media.motion-stream.com/biulive.
The dig blog may be read here.
Last December I made some aerial photographs above Tell es-Safi. Here is a photo showing a view to the southeast. This ancient Philistine city is located at the point where the coastal plain (to the west) meets the Shephelah (to the east). You should be able to make out the line of the Elah brook along the bottom and right of the photo.
Today we are trying to post these photos in a 1024 x 768 pixel size to make this more usable in PowerPoint presentations. Let us know if this is helpful. It require more time and attention, but we may be able to do this occasionally if you find it useful.
Aerial view of Tell es-Safi/Gath looking SE. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
Dr. Maeir posted an aerial view of the tell at the end of the 2009 season here. Our next photo is a close look at Areas E (left) and A (right). Both areas continue to be worked this season.
Tell es-Safi/Gath Areas E and A. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
This site is important for those interested in the biblical history of Israel. Gath was one of the five cities of the Philistines, and the home of Goliath (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17; 17:4).
Ferrell's Travel Blog 
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