hippos (sussita) excavations Project

The Program

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Excavation Flyer

Fees and Accommodation

Application Form

​Credentials via the Anthropocene Research Center

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Applications for the 2027 season will open shortly.

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The site is located above the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, a short distance from kibbutz Ein Gev.
Active optional excavation areas:

• The western decumanus maximus, cardo and insulae

• The Roman-period theater at the Saddle Compound

• The necropoleis

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Dates
The season will last four weeks, June 27th – July 22nd, 2027. 

 

Program Schedule
Fieldwork hours are 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, with additional lab work in the afternoons.
Each week, a couple of archaeology-related lectures will be held. Two guided tours to sites in northern Israel taking place throughout the season are included in the cost.
Participants are free on weekends to relax in the kibbutz or travel on their own.
Participants must arrive at kibbutz Ein Gev on Friday or, at the latest, on Saturday evening before the first working day of the week.

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Daily Schedule
Work will proceed according to the following schedule, Sunday through Thursday:

• 4:20                  Wake-up (on your own)

• 5:00                  Work in the field begins

• 8:30                  Breakfast in the field

• 9:00                  Return to work

• 12:00                End of field work

• 13:00                Lunch at the kibbutz

• 14:00                Rest and optional swimming in the Sea of Galilee

• 16:00-18:00    Afternoon activities: Processing finds, lectures and guided tours

• 18:30                Dinner

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Fees and Accommodation

Accommodation

Participants will be lodged in the hostel of kibbutz Ein Gev, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, about a 5-min. drive from the site. The kibbutz is a 20-min. drive from Tiberias and a 1.2-hr. drive from Haifa.
Each room has 2-4 occupants and shared facilities. You can arrange a single room for an extra fee (ask us in advance), with shared facilities.
All rooms are air-conditioned and have wi-fi access. Linens and towels are provided. Free of charge collective laundry service is available once a week.

Your Excavation Mailing Address (from Europe, mail takes about 10 days; from the US it takes about 14 days): 

(Your Name)
Hippos Archaeological Expedition
Jordan Valley 1494000
Kibbutz Ein Gev
Israel

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Cost & Application Procedure 

One week participation (minimum) = $974

Four weeks (full season) participation = $3,528 (may be paid in your currency).

This cost includes full board and lodging in the kibbutz's air-conditioned rooms, including on weekends (3 meals a day, expedition tours, leisure activities, lectures, etc.).
Interested in joining? Fill out our Application Form. After you submit the form, we will get back to you within a day or two to confirm.

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You can pay by credit card, wire transfer, or personal/bank check payable to the non-profit organization Israeli Institute of Archaeology. Once your application is approved and we agree on the details of your participation, we will provide instructions for your preferred payment method.

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Refund policy:

• Cancellation before June 1st – full refund except for the registration fee ($200).

• Cancellation after June 1st – no refund.

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Each participant must provide proof of full medical insurance covering all aspects of illness or possible injury before arriving at the kibbutz. 

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Recommended Equipment

Hippos is located in a basalt terrain surrounded by cliffs overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
The excavation areas are shaded and safe, but it is still vital to consider local hazards during excavation and in the surrounding area. 
The sharp basalt stones, the heat of the Israeli summer, and the creatures living peacefully in the Sussita Nature Reserve are among the things to prepare for. In addition, the weekly excursions require good basic traveling gear. 
Dress Code? Not at all! You will find the dig and the vast majority of Israel very liberal and without any dress codes. If you plan to visit sacred places, such as churches and mosques, do bring a long-sleeve shirt and long pants/skirt.

Bring things that are sturdy, lightweight, and easy to launder. As the sun is very intense, long sleeves and pants are recommended.
Remember that loose clothing is more comfortable than close-fitting, and synthetic fibers tend to be hot unless designed for heat and quick sweat evaporation.

• Pants – best if pants cover the shoes so the earth won't get into them. You may want to bring up to two pairs of long pants for digging and trekking, and a couple of shorts or other light clothing for the afternoons.

• Shirts – from our experience, heat-condition-designed shirts with UV protection serve well. Many companies nowadays manufacture such shirts. For example, our institute purchases UV-protected shirts from SunWay Company, and we find them just great. You may come to the dig with just a couple of simple T-shirts; it is up to you. No matter what, we all get dirty and sweaty quickly.

• Shoes – good work shoes are a must! Shoes should be strong, high-ankled, and comfortable, with solid traction soles for protection and footing on rocks. Good hiking shoes will do the job and serve you well on excursions and during your weekend travel as well. Participants with fragile sports shoes and similar unprotected shoes will not be allowed at the field.
  Sneakers or sandals are not permitted at the dig. We suggest bringing them for off-field activities.

• Gloves – the dig will supply gloves, but nothing can substitute for good, sturdy, personally fitted gloves. Their main aim is to protect the hands from thorns, rocks, and wear while using tools such as a pickaxe. Remember that it is hot, so don't bring polar gloves.

• Sun hat – sun hats or head coverings are important at the dig, especially when working out of the shade, and are essential during the excursions.

• Sunscreen – bring your preferred sunscreen lotion that suits your skin and lasts in sweat and water. You'll be using it while swimming, too.

• Sunglasses – you'll find good sunglasses an essential item in your kit. The sun is harsh, and they'll supply great comfort in the field, while traveling, and by the shore

• Water bottle – a personal water bottle is recommended. We supply cold water during the dig, which you can use to fill your personal bottle. We have some Hippos field bottles for sale at a low cost.

• Swimming gear – don't forget our leisure time, and bring your top-of-the-line swimming gear if you want to enjoy the Sea of Galilee and even the Mediterranean on weekends.

• Casual clothing – bring casual clothing for after work and weekends.

Please don't arrive with two huge suitcases; it is not a survival expedition or a Top Model competition!

 

Getting There

Israel is very small and relatively very easy to get around, with a rather good net of roads. Public transportation is good, though scarce, on weekends (Friday noon to Saturday evening).
Most of the people in Israel speak English and will be glad to assist.

The expedition lodges some 5 min. drive south from Hippos at Kibbutz Ein Gev, located just on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Emergency/Informational contacts while in Israel:
+972544913042 Arleta Kowalewska, +972528699835 Michael Eisenberg.

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Getting to Israel and to the Kibbutz 

Landing in Israel
You'll be landing at Ben-Gurion International Airport, located not far from Tel Aviv. You may wish to spend a day or two in Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa before arriving at the kibbutz. 

Getting to the Kibbutz
It is best to land at Ben-Gurion Airport during the week or on Friday morning, as the public transportation does not operate during the Israeli weekend (Friday evening to Saturday evening). The best way to get to the kibbutz is to catch a direct bus from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem central bus station (both are easily reached by a 20 min train ride from the airport). Consider traveling a day or two before the dig, then arriving at the kibbutz calmly.

Please arrive at Kibbutz Ein-Gev itself (not the Ein-Gev resort).

By Bus

You can check available connections from the airport (Ben Gurion) to Ein Gev (kibbutz) on Friday via the Israeli Ministry of Transportation website. If you are traveling on another day or from another destination, you may have more options, so please consider that (for example, Tiberias is just a 20-minute drive from the kibbutz). You can also combine your bus route with a taxi (for example, arrive in Tiberias by bus, then take a taxi to the kibbutz).

Another option would be to arrive at the nearby Zemach Junction and take a local bus or taxi to the kibbutz.

The bus ride from the airport to the kibbutz costs around 40 shekels. You can pay via an online app, Moovit (if your phone has mobile data), a card called Rav-Kav (which you can buy at the airport and load with money), or a paper ticket for one ride at any major station. It is not possible to buy tickets on the bus with cash.

By Train
The train terminal is located just one floor below the airport terminal. It can take you to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa, but not to Tiberias or Kibbutz Ein Gev. For train schedules, check Israel Railways. You can pay through the Moovit app, with a card called Rav-Kav (which you can buy at the airport and load with money), or by buying a paper ticket for one ride at the station.

By Taxi
Taxi services are located just outside the airport terminal.

Regular taxis will take around 1000 shekels from the airport to the kibbutz.
Public taxi services (about 10-passengers, called Monit Sherut) are controlled by the Airport Authority and will usually take you to your destination within major cities, but getting a ride to the kibbutz may not be possible (it depends on the willingness of the driver and how many people at the moment will want to travel to a nearby location to your destination).