Tens of Thousands Participate in Archaeological Digs
Tens of Thousands Participate in Archaeological Digs Near Ancient Capital of Edom Every Year: “People find so much that they get skeptical and think that we planted some of it. But this isn’t Disneyland, this is real.” The AP has reported that between 30,000 to 50,000 people each year pay to participate in archaeological digs in ancient tunnels in Israel’s Beit Guvrin National Park near Jerusalem, and hundreds of thousands have participated in the experience since the project began 25 years ago.
According to the report, “the caves were made in the Hellenistic period, about 2,200 years ago, and are found near Maresha, the ancient capital of the biblical Edom and possible birthplace of King Herod the Great,” Stern said. Stern is quoted as saying that the dig is one of the richest in the world. Ian Stern, director of Archaeological Seminars, which is licensed by the Israeli government to do the dig, said it’s a “Tom Sawyer-ish, paint-the-fence-white kind of a situation.” “People find so much that they get skeptical and think that we planted some of it,” he said. “But this isn’t Disneyland, this is real.” [© Breaking Christian News 2005-2006]