Gloria London

Gloria London (Ph.D. University of Arizona) began her studies in archaeology at Tel Aviv University (B.A. and M.A), and has excavated at many sites in Israel and Jordan. She is the author of several books and many articles, particularly pertaining to ceramic technology and the manufacturing techniques and usage of ancient pots. A well-known and popular lecturer, Dr. London is a recipient of both Fulbright and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) fellowships. She has initiated ethnoarchaeological studies of traditional potters in Cyprus, Jordan and the Philippines. This past summer, she directed her second NEH-sponsored Summer Institute for School Teachers program titled “Daily Life in Ancient Times: Archaeology of Israel and Jordan.”

Presenter at

Bible & Archaeology Fest XII, November 20-22, 2009
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Talmud Talks Trash
Trash and garbage are not what they used to be—discarding unwanted things has become a science. As the stress of dealing with our vast amounts of unwanted stuff mounts, we strive to recycle, reuse and generally use less. Our wasteful habits and the current state of the global environment have prompted a new appreciation for Biblical texts that argue against waste, especially of food. Other texts admonish us to care for the Earth (Ecclesiastes 1:4). Archaeological excavations suggest that food waste in antiquity was minimal based on the small quantities of animal bones or other food waste found at ancient sites. This presentation examines what ancient texts and archeological science tell us about resource usage and waste, and how this is relevant to our modern times.