Dig the Biblical World

Mia Smith clears dust from a tabun (oven) at Tel Abel Beth Maacah, Israel
Credit: Courtesy of Tel Abel Beth Maacah Excavations

Dozens of archaeological digs in Israel, Jordan, and elsewhere are looking for volunteers to help them excavate history. Whether you’re interested in the worlds of Kings David and Solomon, want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and the apostles, or work in an ancient Phoenician city, we’ve got an archaeological dig for you. Every year, the Biblical Archaeology Society (BAS) compiles a listing of dig opportunities for volunteers to participate in archaeology fieldwork. Participating in an archaeological excavation is a unique and exciting way to experience history firsthand. This year we are featuring two dozen archaeological sites in Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Spain, and Tunisia, with excavation projects focused on periods from remote antiquity to the recent past.

As the point where three of the world’s major religions converge, Israel’s history is one of the richest and most complex in the world. Sift through the archaeology and history of this ancient land in the free eBook Israel: An Archaeological Journey, and get a view of these significant Biblical sites through an archaeologist’s lens.

For almost four decades, BAS has been connecting volunteers with the opportunity to participate in some of the most exciting and groundbreaking archaeological excavations in the Near East and around the Mediterranean. A wide variety of people take part in our featured digs, and individuals of many different ages, backgrounds, and cultures have come together to share the thrill of discovery. Our “Find a Dig” page provides in-depth information about each dig, including location, historical and biblical significance, project directors, and the goals for the upcoming season. Plus this year we will be highlighting specific digs through our social media channels and providing more information, stories, and behind-the-scenes reports than ever before.

This year, BAS is excited to announce that we will also offer dig scholarships of $2,000 each to people who wish to participate in a dig and demonstrate sufficient need. The scholarship program is open to all but applications from students, faculty, and staff at U.S. community colleges and minority-serving institutions are especially welcome.

Hear from Past Archaeology Volunteers

Over the years, BAS has connected thousands of volunteers with the opportunity to witness history come alive. However, don’t just take our word for it! Read below to hear from some of the past archaeology volunteers and BAS scholarship winners.

Demorick Green, digging at Tell Keisan, Israel
Credit: Courtesy of Demorick Green

Demorick Green (Tell Keisan, Israel) “Being there and seeing the work from past excavations gave me a sense of pride because I knew that after this season I would be among those who contributed to uncovering the site’s history, in a way making me a part of that history.”

Sohel [Moni] Islam, digging at Tell Dhiban, Jordan
Credit: Courtesy of Sohel Islam

Sohel [Moni] Islam (Tell Dhiban, Jordan) “While I certainly loved the fieldwork, lab work, our weekend trips, and the food, the aspect that made the field school in Dhiban most enjoyable and memorable was the people. I am extremely grateful for the Biblical Archaeology Society and the scholarship that secured my participation in this field school, as I wouldn’t have been able to attend otherwise. I will be forever grateful for their generosity!”

Kristina Donnally, showing off a small find from Khirbet el-Ra’i, Israel
Credit: Courtesy of Kristina Donnally

Kristina Donnally (Khirbet el-Ra’i, Israel) “When I received the BAS scholarship, this financial support did not simply mean that I got to embark on an incredible experience, but it also meant that I got to follow my dream career. That is exactly what I got to do. For me, it is a dream come true, and I will never be able to express in words the wonder and fulfillment I feel when I stand covered in dirt and sweat, documenting some find that was just uncovered.”

Sarah Harrington (left) and friend ecstatically showing an excavation trench at Tel Abel Beth Maacah, Israel
Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Harrington

Sarah Harrington (Tel Abel Beth Maacah, Israel) “There is something unique about uncovering physical history that cannot be experienced from reading someone else’s accounts. This dig also taught me the importance and difficulties of interpreting archaeological findings. ‘Let the dirt speak to you’ is a phrase we would jokingly throw around, but it also holds a lot of truth. This may have been my first dig, but I already know it will not be my last. Thanks to the support of BAS, I was finally able to excavate in Israel, solidifying my desire to pursue archaeology as a career.”

Iñaki Marro, excavating at Azekah, Israel
Credit: Courtesy of Iñaki Marro

Iñaki Marro (Azekah, Israel) “As an (emerging) biblical scholar, I am deeply convinced of the necessity to increase the dialogue between the biblical and archeological data—to reshape our reconstructions of the past according to the (re)new(ed) readings of both the written and material evidences. During the two weeks spent in Azekah, I personally witnessed how open-minded, less ideologized interdisciplinary teamwork in biblical studies is possible.”