THIRD ANNUAL SEMINAR ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL

RECONSTRUCTION-CONSERVATION-MAINTENANCE

Place: The Hazeva area of the Arava in southern Israel 30 miles south of the Dead Sea.

Dates:  February 23 – March 5, 2009

Instructor: Ami Sabah-Sharar

Sponsors: Israel Antiquities Authority and Blossoming Rose USA.

The course is an accumulation of 100 hours in classroom and field work time. Seven IAA and university professors lecture and take part in this two week program. All are seasoned and licensed archaeologists or educators in archaeology and restoration.

Certification is granted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Dr. Dov  Nahlieli, and the Southern District Archaeologist Director. Parchment presentation to each student is made during graduation exercises on March 5, at 2 pm.

The course will be taught for the third year at Biblical Tamar Park and is still priced at $1500. The maximum class size is 20 people. The cost of the course includes a shared room and bath, with air conditioning, three meals a day at Tamar, and classroom materials. Tools and building materials are provided by the Park. Airfare is not included but group airfare can be provided by Blossoming Rose Travel. Students must send in a registration and include a $300 deposit. The balance of the seminar cost must be paid 90 days in advance of the class. The registration form can be printed from the web site www.blossomingrose.org.

Course expectations: Students are required to attend all classes and field work. Former experience is not necessary by mobility in lifting stones and walking among the ruins is necessary. A final paper and artist’s type of drawing of the walls repaired is turned in at the end of the two weeks. Classes are held from 8 am to 4 pm daily. Some after dinner lectures are required attendance. There are no age limits and men, women, and teens are invited to take the course.

Students have the freedom to leave the Park after the last class on Thursday. They must be back at Tamar the following Sunday to attend the 8 am class. Absence from the classes and field work will result in denial of certification.

Selections of ten written summaries from students who completed the class are printed for your review. Upon completion of the course, students are certified by the Israel Antiquities Authority to work in antiquities in reconstruction, conservation, and maintenance.

The pictures of the work and classroom experience are provided also available online.

For further information use the email and telephone information provided on this website.

REPORT #1 JAMES E. BUGG

The ancient city of Tamar, today known as Biblical Tamar Park, was the southern most cities of the kingdoms of David and Solomon.  It is situated on the old spice route and was the crossroads of civilization in ancient times.  It was my privilege to be a part of the first Tamar, in 1987 and 1988, led by Dr. Rudolph Cohn and Yigal Israel.  I worked closely with another archaeologist, Shikki Lender, on the northeast corner of the Tel known as the Roman Tower.

Archaeologist Yigal Israel, the director of the Tamar Archaeological Work stated, “Tamar is the most important historic Jewish archaeology site in the Arava.  Its history dates to at least the times of Solomon and it was considered a Jewish city for 1,000 years.” First Kings 9:17-18 is believed to have given this statement of proof, “and Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth-Horon, Baalath, and Tamar in the desert inside the country.”

In recent months, the Israel Antiquities authority has named Blossoming Rose, a non-profit organization based in the United States, and Blossoming Israel, a sister organization, in the State of Israel, as managers of this National Park, holding a twenty-five year lease to conserve, develop and protect Biblical Tamar Park.  The Park consists of fifty-three acres within a 250,000 acre nature reserve.  The regional council in Sapir is calling Tamar a “Gateway to the Arava.”

The archaeological dig here at Tamar, has produced over 25,000 artifacts that are stored in the Jerusalem Museum, waiting for the completion of the park which will include a museum on site.

Blossoming Rose and Blossoming Israel are dedicated to conserving, developing and protecting Biblical Tamar Park.

The wall that is to be re-constructed is the northeast section #1. The excavation of this wall took place some twenty years ago and it must be restored to its original condition to safeguard this historic monument of generations past for future generations.  It is well to bear in mind that this project is not to construct or reconstruct, but to restore to its original condition as close as possible.  A restorer goes behind the original and brings back what the original first looked like, not to change the original but restore it to its original look.

The first step in the restoration process is to mark and determine the problem. After viewing the wall and its surrounding environment, it has been determined that the rain water has been washing against the wall as it flows from another nearby wall.  This has weakened the soil as well as deteriorating the stones.  Also, the stones within the entire wall have been moving slowly caused by the constant movement of the earth and on occasion an earthquake.

After the problem has been determined the second step is to recommend and document the solution.  The recommendation is as follows: First, it is necessary to begin restoring the east end of the wall.  Starting at the top of the wall, it is necessary to clear away all the unstable soil and remove all the lose rocks.  The stones are stored together and the loose and unstable soil and dirt is kept to use in the mortar.  The cleaning can be done with a small pick and a brush.  The finishing process of the cleaning must be done with a smaller paint brush.

Some of the large original stones at the beginning of the east side of the wall have been removed or lost over the centuries.  Since it is within the limits of archaeology to restore the part that have been destroyed or removed, it is necessary to replace these stones with similar ones to restore the wall to its original condition.  Once these few stones have been replaced the existing the ones thoroughly moistened before applying the mortar.  This mortar is a mixture of the original sand cleaned from the wall, lime, and water using a formula mixing three to one (three parts of sand and one part lime). After the mortar has been applied and the stones set, a sprinkling of dust is used to cover the mortar to keep it from drying too fast.  It is important not to get the mortar on the stones, but only given a finished look in the joints.  The stones and mortar will seal the water out preventing damage to the wall.

The same procedure can apply across the very top of the wall.  Again remove all loose and unstable soil and loose stones, using the same instruments for cleaning as above.  Stones and mortar are applied and again the strong mortar will preserve the wall back as much as possible to its original condition without changing the original look.

I have been coming to Israel thirty-seven years and these past twenty years I have been working with Dr. DeWayne Coxon here at Biblical Tamar Park. Extremely interesting, educational and joyful experience!! These classes have added a new dimension to the work here.  Thank you very much!

REPORT #2 THOMAS E. BROWN

Problem: The southeast section of the wall has been badly degraded with particular damage evident to the northeastern side of the wall.  The southwestern side of the wall has several of the original stones in place although these are loose and unstable.  There are several stones at the end of the wall that are not part of the original construction. A significant volume of dirt and silt is present in the rubble that comprises this section due to weathering and erosion.  The northeastern side has partially collapsed.

Solution: Soil and loose stones must be removed from the terminal section and northeastern side of the wall.  A few stones on the southwestern side can remain in place although these must be realigned slightly and re-cemented. After removal of the dirt and rubble from the rest of the section, the wall must be repaired with a sloping embankment for stability and for retaining the ancient appearance of the entire structure.  To the highest degree possible, stones from the original wall should be utilized.  Where not possible, stones of like appearance and composition will be used.

Postscript: After clearing dirt, debris, and loose stones from the southeast termination, we reset about 12 stones on the southwest fascade.  The more extensive damage was on the southeast fascade. On this side, several stones had to be completely removed and replaced with stones of like composition and proximate dimensions.  Several stones had to be replaced along the base of the northeastern fascade due to extensive erosion from water run-off.  A section of six stones had to be removed and reset approximately two meters from the termination of the northeast wall from damage incurred from what appears to have been impact from a large vehicle (tractor?). Much time was expended to ensure that joints were cleanly seated to avoid future water seepage into the structure.  Appropriate use of brushing and sprinkling of sand as well as wetting of stones prior to placement were observed.

Tools: Trowels, tuck pointers, rock hammers, wheel barrows, brushes.

            Mortar mix was two parts local dirt to one part lime. Water added to appropriate               consistency.

REPORT #3 GLENDA WRUBEL

This report is for the purpose of the preservation and a stone wall of Blossoming Rose at Biblical Tamar Park

Since the Arava Desert is below sea level it is beautiful region of Israel I’m sure that salt will always remain in the soil so water causing erosion to a problem in this ancient city.

Problems:

• Many stones are missing and broken from years of neglect.  Corrosion and deterioration have set in due to the lack of maintained
• The cracks are virtually everywhere, hardly one without a crack in its joints.
• There’s so much weathering and decay, not only in the foundation, but also in the wall, from top to bottom.
• The glue or mud that binds the wall together is gone.
• There are areas of inclination where rain has washed away the stone. This is due to the top of the wall not being properly restored for preservation and then maintained.
• Salt in the water is one of the major problems as well and weather is also a major cause of deterioration.
• Because of heat and water combined through many rains yet to come, before too long this wall will cease to stand and there will be no protection for the road it now stands above.

Solutions:

• Solutions are usually quite simple and magical materials do not exist. Just as any good police work which gathers DNA you get all the facts from every means possible.
• You consider all the materials needed for the restoration (Including the color of the stones.)
• Determine how the wall should be re-created and consider the depth of the wall.
• Always consider before and remember to clear around the area you’ll be working in to prevent any accidents.
• Team effort and unity at the work site is vital.
• Begin by removing all of the loose soil around each stone.
• Find and gather local materials from the surrounding area that will aid in the repairs.
• While working observe the existing monuments or obstacles around you so that the restoration is made to look as if there was never any work done at the location.
• Mix mud, using soil, water, and lime and begin to fill in all the cracked joints that are visible and causing separation from other pre-existing stones.  This will prevent water from filtering through.
• All of the joints or cracks including the top of the wall should be filled in to prevent away water leakage.
• Replace any and all of the stones which are missing to prevent further inclination.
• Keep in mind that all of the stones need to be soaked in buckets of water (to the point of absorption) before being placed
• Mortar is used to fill large holes, along with stones, before and after stones are in place.
• Use mortar (to glue) stones in place, by placing mud around, behind and between each stone.  This is how you hold together what is original to the wall and then use the new stones.
• Always take into consideration how the environment is interfering with this geological location.
• Restore accordingly by planning the repairs and restoration with the intent to prevent further weathering of any land (Precipitation is very important).
• Because the process of restoration is such a highly specialized operation its aim is to prescribe and reveal the aesthetic and historic value.
• In my estimation, the research on the heritage is as much a part of the management, maintenance and restoration as is the hands on labor itself.
• So before any problem can be solved the solution can and will overly be accomplished through knowing the history of a particular site.
• To do tours and keep this Park as a historical site, much work is yet to be done.
• I believe that a large part of the solution is to peak the interest of the Jewish people themselves by offering tours, and credit toward time in classes at universities, planned groups to do hands on labor together with other people whose hearts are truly in the desert and or whatever else it may take to draw attention to this site. Who would know more then the residents themselves how precious this land really is, and who more then this people (the Jews), would care enough to preserve every inch of it.
• Even rubbing shoulders with other foreigners who equally love this Promised Land would encourage each party involved. We could learn from each other.
• On my part it’s a labor of love for our God and his awesome creation.
• The bible says in Isaiah 42:5 that “God the Lord… Created the heavens and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that qiveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk there” So I know we can accomplish all that our God gives us the strength to do and we should solve these problems together. (We are the solution)

Tools used for our Project:

1. Jointer or tuck point
2. Paint brush
3. Buckets for mud and water to soak stones
4. Sledge hammer
5. Trowel
6. Sturdy cups for water needed to wet cracks before mud went in or out.
7. Rubber and other gloves

Terms used:

Jointing – Using tuck point – scrape loose dirt

Mechanical Cleaning – using the paint brush dust area being worked

Wetting – using paint brush – dampen areas that mud will be placed.

Pressing - with hands – push down with pressure the mud into cracks

Dusting – With paint brush – after scraping joints clean off stones

Cracks – Joints between stones

Glue – The mud that holds to stones together

Mud – Water mixed with soil and lime to create a mortar

Scraping – Cleaning out the loose dirt.

REPORT #4 DON GORDON

Blossoming Rose and Israel Antiquities Authority conservation training.

Thank you Dr. DeWayne Coxon (Blossoming Rose) for the opportunity to bless the beautiful country of Israel.  I also want to thank our teachers and professors for all the knowledge that they have shared with us.  Thank you to Dr. Yigal Israel., Ram Shoeff, Anni Shahe, Jacque Nagar and Ariel Enbar for doing such a thorough job.  First the archaeological tour by Dr. Yigal Israel of Biblical Tamar Park. He informed us of the age of the city, types of stone walls, and the history of the city. I want to thank Ram Shoeff for the class on how to document the projects by photos and drawings.

      Jaecque Nagor helped us with learning the process of conservation how to look for problems what caused it and how to solve it.

Thank you to Anni Shahar and Ariel Enbae for teaching us how to put the knowledge to work in the field.

First, I need to analyze the wall and use stone exterior 1 ½ meters thick. Inner parts of the wall consist of smaller stone and soil Photos were taken and drawings made to analyze the problems with the wall.

We saw that the wall had loose stones, displaced stones, weathered stones, cracks and mortar joints missing.  Some of the wall was damaged because of the water flow towards the wall.

Solution to fixing the wall:

Find out what kind of stone, and if available what kind of mortar was used and the cost of restoration.

Fixing the wall:

1. Clean out loose joints and cracks
2. Remove loose stones
3. Clean off loose dirt and mortar with brush
4. Wet joints, stones and soil in areas of repair
5. Mix mortar 1 part lime 2 parts soil
6. Fill joints with mortar
7. Place smaller stones in mortar joints to help fill the space
8. Sweep the joints with a wet paint brush, then sprinkle joints with dry soil to help it to dry slower and give it the assigned color

Capping: Laying smaller stones (that are wet in a mortar bed on top of the wall in a jaggy pattern so that it will shed water and also where you continue to build the wall taller, it will cement together)

Finally make sure that the grade is away from the wall so that the water flow will not erode the bottom of the wall.

Tools needed:

1. Water buckets
2. Wheelbarrow
3. Stone hammers
4. Chisels
5. Tuck pointers
6. Trowels
7. Brushes
8. Small paint brush

REPORT #5 DELBERTA GORDON

Thanks to Blossoming Rose Dr. and to DeWayne Coxon for allowing this to take place at Tamar Park. It’s a great privilege and honor to be a part of Israel’s Biblical Heritage.

Thanks to all the professors who shared their knowledge and connections with us.

Definition – Find the problem

We toured the archaeological site of Tamar.  Dr Yigal Israel introduced this conservation project in the Park.

Ram Shoeff archaeologist shared pictures of the wall on the North end of constructions site.

Photos were introduced of the wall needing conservation.  Drawings were done for preservation and restoration of the wall.  Then we discussed how to conserve it.

We went on site and studied the wall, to recognize the Problem.

We analyzed the structure of the wall. The foundation was weak because of decay and erosion. Stones were loose and missing. Soil not shaped because of cracking and flaking.

Rain weathering and age place a large factor in the eroding of the wall.  “Big Problems.” Anni Shahar documented and prepared us for on site work.

What is necessary and possible to conserve the walls?

The process was to consider two things: How much is it going to cost and where will the material come from?  Look for local areas to purchase the materials

We want to look at the Big Picture and always consider safety and restoration first.

On the job site we learned the solution by do.

Jacque Nagar: The process of conserving is a factor and conservation problems.  Then the solution

The process needed was:

1. To dig joints out
2. Wet joints with brush
3. Fill joints with mortar (Made of soil and lime and water)
4. Level joints approximately ¼ inches inward from stone with tool = tuck point and trowel.
5. Place wet small stone or stones in joint of opening hole, with mortar.
6. Brush joint with wet brush
7. Sprinkle with dry soil to help slow down dryer process and also gives a more natural color.
8. Sweep wall with brush to clean stone
9. Small stones to cap top of wall mortar joint add soil to shed water and dry slower.
10. Build grade to slope away from wall to keep rain from shedding on wall and eroding it.

Materials needed: Buckets, wheel barrel, sledge hammer, tuck shovel point, water, and mortar including soil and lime, stone (smaller), Trowel, rubber globes, brushes, masks.

Upon completion if there are salt lines mix soil with water (like paint thickness) and brush on lines to coat and cover the lines.

REPORT #6 STEVE OVERTON

The students taking this course were assigned a section of the north wall near the British building to examine and develop repair/reconstruction glue.

            First a sketch of the section was made and compounded with an actual photograph. The wall was then prepped by removing the sand that had accumulated; loose rocks, and cleaning the joints between the remaining rocks.  Mortar was prepared using a 3.5 mix of plaster, sand and water. Rocks were replaced, packed with mortar with existing joints and additional mortar was packed.  The top of the wall was leveled so as to be prepared for a “topping” the purpose of which is to solidify the wall but also to provide for water run-off to minimize erosion from rain.

            The final result will be a wall that is essentially what it was when is was built, but fortified so as to stop the deterioration that has been going on for centuries and protect against further deterioration.

            I found the instruction, course content and expertise of the instructors excellent. I believe every student receiving the instruction is now in a good position to provide supervision for volunteer groups who visit the park.  This will add a significantly to the effort to maintain the Tel and stay ahead of further deterioration due to weather

conditions.

REPORT #7 SYLVIA MOELLER

The problem with the wall area to be repaired is that the walls are decaying and eroding from the salt that is in this area of Israel. Reason for maintenance.

            The problem of age and weather, mostly rain and salt has so deteriorated and crumbled the wall that it needs much reconstruction.

            First the soil must be removed carefully and then consider what stones need to be replaced and others added to the area. The portion that has been repaired was just layed in place and not mortared together so most of this area needs complete restoration. The solution is to remove the stones that are not mortared in, clean the area of soil, wet the area with brush so the area will be moist as the mortar will not stick to the stones.  That has been moistened in a bucket of water otherwise. Fill area with mixed wet mortar, place stones in and fill in around stones with more mortar and small stones, push in around stones with gloved hand, use small brush to roughen mortared area throw soil at wall when finished before mortar is dry to make joints look old and antique or original.

            A fun project and I enjoyed each instructor.

REPORT #8 J.D. GORDON

We had lectures in the mornings and part of each afternoon. After lunch we had documentation and preparation for on site work. Taking pictures and drafting of wall to be worked on was a necessity. Implanted work the next day on wall removing sand.  From top of wall and loose rocks and more sand.  Using trowels, tuck tools and brushes then mixing mud to place broken and loose stones.  Then cleaning joints with brush, removing all loose mortar and sand.  Then wet down wall with wet brush with plenty of water.  Removing loose stones from wall making careful note to replace in same form.  Then the work began to replace stones in wall and repair all loose joints pressing mortar into joint with tuck tool and brush.  Restoring and restoration is to maintain a historical sight for towns for the Biblical history of Tamar.  The process of restoration is a highly specialized operation.  Its aim is to preserve and reveal the historic value of the monument or wall and respect for original material

REPORT #9 EVELYN GORDON

Conservation and consolidation course in Biblical Tamar Park.

The Tamar Park site is a significant development in history.  This historical site has foundations of stone and mud.  They are mortared together with mud made of dirt, water and lime.  Tools that are needed are a tuck pointer, trowels, brushes, buckets for water and mortar, wheel barrows and shovels.

            Conservation is to conserve and maintain the site on a regular basis as original construction not changing any structure or altering the color of the original works.

            The restoration is to maintain a historical site for tours and for this particular site the Biblical history of Tamar

            The sections we worked on we cleaned the old loose mud out of the joints around the stone doing a small section at a time and then we brushed away any loose mud.  We then took water and a brush and washed out the joints leaving them wet and then we filled the joints with new mudding using the tuck pointer and a trowel and where the space was large enough we placed wet stones using as large as possible that would fit in the space.  We then finished mudding the stone in working the joints solid with the tuck pointer. When this was finished we took loose sand and spread it on to give it a natural look.

            It is also very important to step back often at all the stages of the work to observe and check if everything is lining up and the stones you are choosing to use fits the area and shape and the mud is going into all the opened joints.

REPORT #10 DELTON WILLETT

The biggest problem seems to have been that the salt and the rain have eroded the stones away. There are many problems with this wall we have been working on.  The first problem being age, salt, weather.  The years of hard harsh weather from heat mostly has deteriorated the stones and mortar.  When the wall was repaired by others it was filled with rock behind and the repair work was not done correctly.  The stones were not laid to tie together correctly.  They did not tie into the wall nor did the layers tie together along the wall to create a place for the mortar to hold it together.  Stone work has to be tied together with the joints in the wall not being one laid over 1 foot apart. Every foot they should go in a different direction.  Also the originators of the wall, the builders, did not have access to lime to add more strength to the mortar.  This was also a problem, there also was no foundation and the rocks were not tied into the original to stabilize them any way.

The solution to these problems is really to use the stone as we have been doing, to put lime in the mortar first.  Be careful to tie all stones together into the wall behind and in front or along side.  The stones need to be wet so they will not dry too quickly. Every stone has to be laid with mortar completely surrounding it and not to have any joints between rocks over 4 centimeters. Joints in the corners where rocks come together should be filled with small stones to strengthen the mortar joints.  A foundation should be laid under the walls and stones should be set in foundation when it is still wet.  Foundation should be set with rerod in it not over 4 inches apart or 8 centimeters apart throughout the entire foundation, every 2 feet there should be rerod driven into the ground and tied into rerod running along the base of the footing.  To make the walls earthquake proof, the walls could be set on a small bed of rock 3 feet deep in the ground for a base to be able to move in case of an earthquake.

Summary: These 10 reports were written upon completion of the class and have had limited editing.  Unedited reports, with site drawings, are available upon request for $50.

The next conservation and reconstruction class will be taught February 23-March 5, 2009, at Biblical Tamar Park.