[First published on Facebook 29 August 2024]

2024 has been a year of convergence of significant moments that not only confirmed my path in life, but also call me to step up to even greater responsibility. Firstly (in importance) in my religious life as a Jesuit, with my final vows last May; then in my mission as an academic at the Pontificio Istituto Biblico, Roma, with my academic promotion; and now, this, in my life as field archaeologist. Three significant markers that on one level were unrelated, on the other deeply intertwined.

Eleven seasons ago (2013) I joined the team at The Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition. I spent nine seasons on staff in N1, first as Assistant, then as Supervisor. If at the Tas-Silġ excavations (1996-2000), with Classics and Archaeology at UM, I learnt how to do fieldwork, here as Azekah I matured into a field archaeologist, taken increasing responsibility in my area.

After nine seasons and thirty-six weeks, we close N1. Sad? No, not really, though I’m sure it will hit me harder next week. But it feels like the tree has matured and the fruit is ripe for the picking. I am so grateful for these past years, and I owe a lot to the many people I’ve worked with, particularly Oded Lipschits, Manfred Oeming, Sabine Kleiman, Yuval Gadot, who have directed this dig over so many seasons.

But it is not a good bye, rather stepping up to a different responsibility – that of helping to bring this rather vast area to publication, alongside the excavations directors. I couldn’t be more honoured.