Here is an example of another site that I have reconstructed, namely the harbour and village of Capernaum in the time of Christ:
That doesn't mean to say that I concentrate on Jerusalem and the Temple Mount only. But it took me over twenty years before I was satisfied that I had found out as much as there is to find out about that huge site. It was a privilege to have worked there for so many years and to get to know the building details intimately. I knew the Bible well, since I began reading it carefully in Israel in 1967 and the sacred buildings, such as the Tabernacle and the Temples built by Solomon and Herod, always intrigued me. Out of all the archaeological sites that you've worked on, which Biblical site has excited you the most?
That apparently went well, for when he left four months later, the professor asked me to take over his job. His work fascinated me and he gave me a reconstruction project to do under his supervision. After I gave my survey plans and sections to him, he completed missing lines and suddenly I saw what I was working on.
CAIPHUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BIBLE DISCOVERY HOW TO
An Irish architect showed me how to do this. I was taken on as surveyor in 1973, making plans and sections of the site. The first site I worked on was the Temple Mount excavations in Jerusalem. How long have you been an archaeological architect, and where was your first site? The most well-known drawing is my reconstruction of the Herodian Temple Mount: The result was that I was asked to make reconstruction drawings of over one hundred sites. Some digs had capable artists or architects working as volunteers who could make reconstruction drawings, but I was the only one, as far as I know, who did it full-time. When I worked in Israel till 1989, I was practically the only one who specialized in making reconstruction drawings of ancient sites. After that I had no more trouble explaining ancient sites to visitors.Īre there many Archaeological architects that specialize in Biblical Archaeology? This changed when I started using black and white reconstruction drawings with the extant remains coloured in. I used to explain particular details with words and sometimes hands and feet, but not everybody understood what I was trying to make them see. I found this out when I had to give tours of the dig to visitors. After having worked for a while on an excavation, I realized that I was not alone having this problem. When I first looked at multi-period archaeological sites in Israel I didn't understand what I was looking at. I have always been interested in ancient architecture, but never knew that I could make a career out of it. What made you choose such an interesting career? It is also important to study any available ancient sources and study comparative architectural styles.Īs an archaeological architect you've managed to combine two of your interests in a career, Archaeology and Art. One also needs to do a survey of all the fallen or destroyed remains which are no longer 'in situ', i.e. Before making any reconstruction, one first has to make plans, elevations and sections of the site. I have done this with pen and ink on paper or as a painting, by designing and building models and also by actually building up ancient sites to show some of their former glory. The work I have done for a long time now, is reconstructing ancient sites. In layman's terms, what exactly does an archaeological architect do? Leen, you're job title is 'Archaeological Architect specializing in Biblical Archaeology'. This has not been a problem to Leen Ritmeyer whose research is guaranteed to inspire Bible artists worldwide! Many Bible artists, including myself, struggle when it comes to illustrating truly authentic Biblical buildings. The Forth of our 'Bible Artist' interviews is with Archaeological Architect Dr Leen Ritmeyer.
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