ASOR FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
HEATHER PILLETTE
Heather aiding in the measurement of a small jar.
What was your most memorable moment during the excavation season you participated in?
There were innumerable “memorable moment”, so choosing only one is quite the difficult task. If I had to choose just one, it would have to be between uncovering a large hippo jar in my square or closing the dig down the last day. The hippo jar was exciting because I had spent a semester reading about them and other types of pottery vessels, and so the discovery of one was quite exciting. Likewise, there were a few students who came to close the dig down with Amihai Mazar and Nava Panitz-Cohen; it was a very special moment to witness the last-ever day Tel Rehov was open for excavation.
What advice would you give a fellow recipient?
It is also difficult to give one standard word of advice for the plethora of recipients represented who have different background, career goals, and emphases. My best advice would be to encourage humility, teachability, and joy. In my experience, my gratitude and joy in receiving such an honor and financial gift made the experience that much more enjoyable. In addition to this, no matter your past experience in archaeology (if any) and no matter your specific interests, you can learn something significant on every dig if you are willing to be open and teachable. So, enjoy the time you have and ask many questions! Give everything you have to your experience; you won’t regret it!
Are you still affiliated with ASOR as a member?
Yes, I am still affiliated with ASOR through my graduate program at Asbury Theological Seminary. I am currently finishing my Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation. I am looking at a variety of schools and PhD programs in Old Testament (Theology/Biblical Studies) for future work.
What is the current status of your career or education (or other project)?
As previously mentioned, I am in my final year(s) of completing my Master’s degrees. My hope and desire is to continue my education in the form of an Old Testament PhD. At this time I intend to work in Hebrew Poetry, specifically Lamentations. I am currently working with the book of Lamentations on a syntactical level but also in regards to how it fits in Christian theology and worship.
How did the scholarship/grant help you with your career?
The fellowship was a great honor and a help in supporting my first archaeological endeavor. It is my hope to return to excavations as early as next summer. Archaeology is a field which gives answers but more often than not leads to many more questions. I have found the same to be true as I dig deeper into the Biblical text, especially when done in its original language. This is the beauty of scholarship. The dig I went on moved me beyond the technical and academic and into the passionate reality of what we were excavating and holding: items left behind from real people who lived and breathed just as we do today. There is something inexplicably beautiful the moment one has such a realization. Although my emphasis is not in archaeology, this trip served as a critical and foundational turning point in my scholarship, one which will have lasting effects.
