tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post2699643052677803939..comments2008-04-09T23:59:32.955-05:00Todd Bolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156730661243501832tbolen91@bibleplaces.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post-72814669080188045782008-04-09T23:59:00.000-05:002008-04-09T23:59:00.000-05:00Area A was not as thoroughly excavated as various publications implied. The excavation of the “outer gate” area was (to my knowledge) prompted by the Parks Authority, which asked Biran to canvass the approach to the Iron Age gate to prepare the path for the new tourist entrance. It was not a salvage excavation per se, but its scope restricted a comprehensive stratigraphic analysis. The larger constructional fill matrix (in which the stela fragments were reused in secondary context) was in fact underexcavated, and I intend to explore the unexcavated in situ fill exhaustively. The Area A extramural complex is poorly understood and we do not yet know its parameters. It is not my intention to go fishing for stela fragments. Rather I wish to clarify the nature of the extramural complex, the execution of which will entail a careful reexamination of the entire area. Of course, many of the decisions related to this season’s research design are tentative; conditions in the field this season will govern the prioritization of activity and objectives. In other words, I’d prefer not to sensationalize this coming season as a full-scale dash to locate certain basalt fragments … we have a host of genuine scientific interests with merit pertinent to the recovery and dignity of a culture otherwise lost to memory.<BR/><BR/>Ryan Byrne<BR/>Co-director, Tel Dan Excavations<BR/>Professor of Semitics and Archaeology<BR/>Rhodes CollegeRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01758103798402687612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post-758756071679831212008-04-08T19:33:00.000-05:002008-04-08T19:33:00.000-05:00Maybe Dr. Byrne can clarify something for me. After the original large fragment (A) was discovered on the surface, I was under the impression that a thorough/exhaustive search was conducted for additional pieces matching the stone, & that's when they found the other 2 fragments (B & C). Is your team planning to dig in a different area, or was the A/B/C area not completely investigated back in the 90s?<BR/><BR/>In any event, best wishes to you & the rest of your team, even if you don't find the rest of the stela!G.M. Grenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715203546886901296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post-23293364713361885662008-04-07T17:41:00.000-05:002008-04-07T17:41:00.000-05:00Hello from Tel Dan!<BR/><BR/>We will indeed be blogging daily from Dan once the summer season begins! Feel free to visit us this summer at teldan.wordpress.com.<BR/><BR/>Wish us luck!<BR/><BR/>Ryan Byrne<BR/>Co-director, Tel Dan Excavations<BR/>Professor of Semitics and Archaeology<BR/>Rhodes CollegeRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01758103798402687612noreply@blogger.com