The Tell, pp. 11-83 Summary

The Source by James A. Michener is a voyage through history, just as many of his other novels have been. The historically based novel focuses on Israel and the Middle East. Some characters, places and events are historical, other are fictional.

The book opens with the arrival of archaeologist Dr. John Cullinane in Akko. He is greeted by his colleagues, Jemail Tabari and Dr. Vered Bar-el and they drive to the excavation site at Makor. The dig has been funded for five years and they have high expectations of what they will find. The project is managed and administered by Ilan Eliav who works for an Israeli ministry.

The excavation site is located next to the kibbutz Makor, where they will live and eat. Cullinane must decide where to begin the dig and he gives a preparatory...