Janet Fisher, TBS Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology student
Throughout my 27-year career in law enforcement people repeatedly informed me that law enforcement officers (LEO) only lived an average of 5-years after retirement. Early deaths by several LEO in my agency and the surrounding area seemed to confirm the claim, including one former colleague who didn’t even live long enough to collect her first pension check.
Those who did “beat the odds” often engaged in secondary employment, recreational activities, hobbies, and volunteer opportunities. While some distance themselves from law enforcement culture, others seem to find activities utilizing skills developed in their careers. At first glance, although archaeology may seem very different from law enforcement, both fields require organization, investigative, logistical, and communication skills.
I first experienced archaeology in June 2023 at Tel Shiloh. I received a square assignment (the green square) and watched as square supervisors distributed necessary equipment and assigned tasks. LEO agencies are similarly divided into categories – precincts, teams, beats, and functional assignments. Crime scene investigations even use the square concept. LEO understand the necessity of making daily action plans and conveying instructions and priorities from higher ups.
Our daily dig routine began with breakfast at 4:00 AM, leaving on buses at 4:59 am, and enjoying devotional messages while traveling from Jerusalem to Shiloh, somewhat similar to LEO briefings at the start of each workday. Throughout the day at Shiloh, finds of interest were reported square supervisors or assistant supervisors, and items determined important were documented and reported to dig leaders. Similary, LEO are required to report specific types of events up the chain of command and write reports as necessary or directed.
Our dig days at Shiloh ended with storing tools, washing pottery, enjoying beverages and/or ice cream at the visitor center, and riding back “home” to our hotel while comparing notes about our experiences. LEO similarly often gather after shifts for “choir practice” (debriefing and decompression).
This is perhaps the greatest area of convergence between archaeology and law enforcement. Archaeological excavations involve detailed examinations of sites to determine who was there, when, what they did, even where “there” is (original site names are sometimes disputed), why, and how the site was abandoned/destroyed. Similarly, LEO collect evidence to determine who was involved in an incident, when it occurred, what occurred, how events unfolded, why, and where those involved may have gone. Then, collected information must be reported, cataloged, further examined, and written up. Dr. Scott Stripling, Shiloh Director of Excavations and Provost of The Bible Seminary, like to emphasize, “The goal of archaeology is to publish.” Similarly, successful prosecution of criminals or clearing suspects of charges requires accurate, detailed, often extensive, and timely reports from LEO.
As Dr. Stripling reminded us, archaeology is destructive. To get to the lowest levels of occupation, upper level(s) must be removed. Thus, written reports, photographic, and video documentation is essential since those are the only means by which future researchers can “visit” the layers of a site. For example, Danish archaeologists labled a ceramic item found at Tel Shiloh in the early 1900’s a “stopper.” However, when current archaeologists reviewed the old report, they noticed a distinct similarity to a more recently discovered ceramic pomegranate. Further investigation indicated that “stopper,” although now significantly damaged, is most likely another pomegranate, which further supports the opinion that Shiloh was a cultic site (i.e. the location of the tabernacle during the period of Judges). Similarly, LEO interventions sometimes destroy evidence, so photographic, audio, and video documentation often contribute significantly to investigations.
One distinction is that LEO, like Joe Friday in Dragnet, want “just the facts” without opinions. Presuppositional opinions can cause bias in interpreting collected data and result in prosecutions and even convictions of innocent people because investigators who find evidence to support their opinion may overlook exculpatory evidence. While archaeologists must similarly refrain from prematurely stating opinions, dig reports do include suggested interpretations and conclusions.
Archaeological excavations require money and volunteers. Excavations at Tel Shiloh require a large hotel willing to open hours earlier than most hotels, chartered buses and vans, portable toilets, lots of onsite and offsite storage, tables, tents, food, and a wide variety of excavation equipment (dry sifting racks and stations; a wet sifting station with plumbing, pumps, water reservoirs, hoses, sprayers, and buckets; sand bags, shovels, picks, axes, trowels, brushes, brooms, picks, rubber buckets, and more; cameras, drones, microphones, lights, video screens, Ipads, and computers). Similarly, LEO agencies must budget for and acquire office space, vehicles, personal protective equipment, lethal and non-lethal weapons, safety equipment, and more for both routine and emergency operations.
Well before a dig starts or officers hit the streets, leadership must engage in logistical planning, purchasing, and preparations. While the dig season at Shiloh only last four weeks per year, logistical planning and follow-up happens all year long. As one of the largest excavations in the Middle East for the last few years, logistics involves coordinating the activities of hundreds of people. Also, both my archaeological and LEO experiences included unexpected challenges that required immediate logistical adjustments and problem-solving actions.
LEO communicate using a wide range of modern technology – iPads, drones, and body cameras; radio terminals, multi-channel radios, dash cams, computers, phones, and GPS locators; live video feeds and recorded data; written logs (hard copy and electronic), investigation reports with physical evidence, photographs, and videos. Similarly, Shiloh square supervisors and assistants record data on iPads in real time, photographers and drone operators document daily progress in each square, the dig director meets together with the key leaders after the dig each day, and they all work together to publish final dig reports, sometimes in multiple volumes corresponding to one or more dig seasons.
Excavations can benefit from volunteers and retired LEO like myself who are seeking opportunities to continue to make positive contributions to society. Such symbiotic relationships can be win-win situations in which people like me can repurpose applicable skills, a mindset, and experiences in exciting new ways.
Originally published in The Sentinel, Summer 2004, pp. 6-7.
Comments