Excavation at Akko

The Project

Beginning in 2010, faculty and students from the Claremont Colleges have joined an international team of archaeologists and students from the United States, Israel, Europe and Asia to work at an archaeological site in Akko, Israel. Producing a video series profiling this effort was an opportunity to tell a great story while introducing people to the science behind the excavation.

My Role

This project began when I found out about the excavation while attending a faculty meeting. They originally thought I would go to Israel, but I suggested a different plan. One of the PhD students in the CGU Department of Religion (Genie) was also a drone operator and freelance videographer. Genie had already helped me shoot a few videos. Instead of CGU paying my way to document the excavation, I suggested we send Genie instead. Genie could cover the Akko side and I could interview faculty and students in Claremont after the dig. It all went splendidly. In fact, Genie shot so much video in Akko, we produced six additional videos about the excavation with the help of a student editor. To bring it all together I made a custom WordPress website for the excavation using documents supplied by the CGU School of Religion.

The Impact

• Won a CASE Gold Award for university research video.
• The website for the excavation is now the primary gateway for students interested in the dig.

Produced by A. Penta and G. Deez | Photographed by A. Penta & G. Deez | Edited by A. Penta

Additional Videos