Friends of the Institute of Archaeology
The Friends of the Institute of Archaeology is a non-profit organization established in 1978 in order to support the activities of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University and to foster the dissemination of knowledge about archaeology to laypersons and professionals.
The Friends of the Institute of Archaeology was founded by George Majewsky, a former president, and the late Jacob M. Alkow, who bequeathed funds for two departmental chairs, as well as a new wing for the Department and Institute of Archaeology. Ms. Sara Shachar Lev currently serves as President of the Friends.
In 1989, the Friends provided the Institute of Archaeology with seed money to establish a publishing program for excavation reports of Institute-sponsored digs. Over the years, with the financial backing of the Friends, this program has flourished and the Institute has become a major publisher of books and journals. To date, the Institute has published 37 monographs, ten volumes of salvage excavation reports and four occasional publications, as well as the peer-reviewed Tel Aviv journal. It has recently established a new series, titled “Mosaics: Studies on Ancient Israel,” to provide a forum for studies conducted by the Institute’s scholars, as well as proceedings of conferences.
The Friends of the Institute of Archaeology acquires books for the archaeology library, especially textbooks required by students. Awards grants to outstanding students and sponsors lectures, including lecturers from abroad, and study tours.
The Friends has been a supporter of one of the Institute’s major archaeological digs, the Lachish Excavations. The first project of the Friends at Lachish, initiated by Mrs. Evelyn Stol, was the restoration and reconstruction of the Stratum III Judean gate, destroyed in 701 BCE by Sennacherib, and of the Stratum II Judean gate, destroyed in 586 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar. Jacob M. Alkow was a principal contributor to this enterprise, which took three years to complete.
Members of the Friends of the Institute of Archaeology enjoy lectures on archaeological subjects and participate in archaeological tours in Israel and abroad. Such tours have already covered many of the archaeological sites in the Mediterranean basin.
Contact Info:
If you are interested in promoting the work of the Friends of the Institute of Archaeology or in participating in its activities, please contact Ms. Sara Shachar Lev.
Email: saralev@post.tau.ac.il
Phone: 03-6409417
