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We are fully into the swing of surveying here at Shimron. Last week we dug a couple small (1x1m) test pits, 30cm deep to see what sort of pottery there is across the Tell. I got to do a couple of those, but most the week I was part of the “Reconnaissance Survey,” where we measure out 10x10m squares across the whole tell, and for 10 minutes collect all the pottery we can find on the surface. There were about 400 of these squares, and we had two teams of four, but we got it done by the end of Friday!
Yesterday we had off, and I just stayed at the kibbutz to read and relax.
Today, two teams dug some larger and deeper test pits, but I was on the magnetometry team. Elise taught us how to use the magnetometer, and how to set up the measuring tapes in grids. The Magnetometer measures the magnetic pull of the ground beneath it. This way, if you have something underground, like a wall, it will show up because it causes the ground in that area to have a different magnetivity. That’s what I understand at least.
We ran into some problems, for one thing, you have to find a “Quiet Place” where the magnetic variances are minimal, so you can tune the instrument. We had to walk quite a ways before finding one that was decent. Also, we discovered one of the sensors on the magnetometer was consistently reading way too high. Thankfully, we have another magnetometer which works correctly. We also had troubles seeing the meter marks on the measuring tapes. This is important, because you have to walk a 30m transect in a set amount of time, and need to keep pace with the machine. It will beep every time you are supposed to be passing a meter mark. We solved that problem by getting some spray-paint, and using it to define the marks on the tape more clearly.
You also have to be sure you don’t hold the magnetometer on any sort of a slant, and you have to be careful not to let it bounce as you walk. Otherwise the sensors will take an uneven or skewed measurement.
It’s hard to tell how useful the data will be, especially since we weren’t able to gather much we could use today.
Tomorrow Elise needs to help the GIS team, so I’m going to teach a couple of the other volunteers how to use it. The hardest part will be finding a good quiet spot, where we can calibrate the machine well. If we can’t find one, the data will all be off, and show up as uneven on the computer.
Our days are long! Up at 4:30, leave for the Tell at 5:00, two breaks and back to the Kibbutz at 4:00. Then just a couple hours and dinner before bed! But it feels good to be busy, and tired at the end of a day.

I am so looking forward to flying home, though! I can’t wait to step into the airport in Chicago, and to see my family!

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