Alumnus Nate Steinmeyer encourages students to excavate the Holy Land. Courtesy | Nate Steinmeyer

Few things connect you to the past the way excavating does. Whether you are interested in prehistoric peoples, the biblical story, or the Roman Empire, the joy of discovery is incredible and life changing.

I remember the first time I held an Early Bronze Age vessel that I had uncovered with my own two hands. At that moment, I was closer to the past than I had ever imagined, holding an object that had last been touched by a human more than 4,000 years ago.

I gained a passion for history and education at Hillsdale with professors such as Ken Calvert, Don Westblade, and many others. Now, my job is not only to experience these things for myself but to help others do the same. Working for the Biblical Archaeology Review magazine – as I finish my Ph.D. at Tel Aviv University – I collaborate with archaeologists and scholars all over the Holy Land and the Mediterranean to share their discoveries. One of the best parts of my job is connecting them to volunteers who want to take part in their excavations.

Whether it is watching the biblical city of Bethsaida emerge from the shores of the Sea of Galilee, seeing an Edomite stronghold reveal its desert secrets, or exploring a recently buried section of Jerusalem’s Iron Age walls (c. 1200-586 BC), excavating in the Holy Land has opened up completely new ways of viewing the Bible itself and the peoples and cultures who inhabited the region.

You don’t need to be religious or a history nut to come on a dig. From getting hands-on skills in the science side of archaeology, to just spending a few weeks experiencing a foreign country, there is a lot that excavating has to provide. Many digs even offer university credit. So why not knock out some of those needed electives while you’re at it?

Having visited dozens of active dig sites and talked to hundreds of students who volunteered for the dig, I can tell you that I personally have not met a single person who regretted this opportunity to learn and grow. I want Hillsdale students to enjoy this opportunity as well. Take the step out of the classroom and into the class-field.

So, have I convinced you? Well, here are a few more selling points: incredible food, not living with your parents for the summer, having a unique experience on your resume, making friends from all over the world, visiting a new country, and so much more.

So, how do you sign up for a dig? I can help with that. Go to www.biblicalarchaeology.org/digs for our thorough list of excavations looking for volunteers this summer. We also offer scholarships to help you cover expenses. Be sure to check soon, as the deadline for submission varies by site and you don’t want to miss out. If you have any questions, I would love to answer them.

Whether you want to excavate on the Mediterranean coast, the Galilee, the Judean Hills, or the plains of Jordan, we have a dig for you.