Ten students from the specialization program of Biblical Theology of the School of Theology of the University of Navarra have traveled to the Holy Land to participate in an academic plan coordinated by Diego Pérez Gondar, professor of the School.

From April 2 to 15, a total of 34 students and 4 professors from the universities of Navarra, Salamanca, Granada and San Dámaso de Madrid have had the opportunity to fill in a program of visits to the main archaeological parks in Israel. Among other places, they visited Bersheva, Maresa, Bet Guvrim, Lakhis, the main excavations in Jerusalem, Jericho, Qumran, Masada, Caesarea Maritima, Sepphoris, Nazareth, Magdala, Tiberias, Tabga, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Jazor, Tel Dan, Banias, Shechem, Sebastia, Herodion and Bethlehem.

Students and professors from the four universities in front of the remains of the Canaanite gate from the Middle Bronze Age (1,750 B.C.) at Tel Dan, near the sources of the Jordan. PHOTO: Courtesy

The activity is part of the subject of Biblical Geography and Archaeology and is part of a joint project with the three universities mentioned above. As Professor Pérez Gondar pointed out, "this project is an inter-faculty experience in which we participate every two years. This is the third edition organized and, although the pace has been hectic, the experience has been wonderful and very positive". He also explained that, during the trip, "each professor has contributed his point of view: Junkal Guevara (University of Granada) is a specialist in the X-VI centuries BC, Santiago Guijarro (University of Salamanca) is a recognized specialist in the first centuries BC-I AD and I have been able to contribute my knowledge in the V-I centuries BC. In this way, we have been able to go through the Old and New Testament in the places where the events that are the basis of our identity took place".

On the other hand, Perez Gondar, has assured that the trip has been possible thanks to the partnership of the Spanish Biblical and Archaeological high school in Jerusalem: "The core topic of the success of this initiative professor has been the good work of its current director , Francisco Barrado, manager of the technical direction of the entire program of visits in the Holy Land".