When Nicole Wheeler, senior, decided to go on an archaeological dig, she had no idea that one of her dreams was about to come true.

“I’ve always wanted to get on the cover of [Biblical Archaeology Review] since I was a kid …” Wheeler said.  “I didn’t think my goal would come so soon.”

During the fall semester of 2007, Wheeler had the opportunity to study abroad at Jerusalem University College.  While there, she got involved in the Leon Levy Expedition in Ashkelon, Israel.

“My friend told me that the site was rich with artifacts,” Wheeler said.  “I concluded that this site would be perfect for my first archaeological dig.”

Because Ashkelon is just a mere 10 miles north of Gaza, Wheeler said many people, and especially her mom, were concerned for her safety.  Wheeler’s excitement, on the other hand, only fueled from knowing this.

“It gave me an added bonus sense of adventure,” Wheeler said.  “Get the artifacts before the terrorists get ‘em.”

And Wheeler did just that.

Wheeler was on the dig for six weeks, on her hands on knees, looking for treasures from ages past. 

“I found donkey teeth,  a spindle made of ivory, lots of pieces of pottery, the hydria that made it to the cover of BAR, and a head to a figurine,” Wheeler said.

Even after finding all those objects, Wheeler never thought it would get any recognition.

“I signed a waiver before going to the dig that allowed any pictures of me taken by those in charge of the dig to be used for whatever they wanted,” Wheeler said.  “When the pictures were taken people mentioned that it could make it to BAR magazine, but even then I figured it wouldn’t happen to me.”

But it did.

“I found out from some of the friends I made who attend Wheaton and who participated in the excavation,” Wheeler said. “They told me through Facebook, and I didn’t believe them at all. I figured they were playing a joke on me.”

Wheeler’s picture with the hydria, an ancient artifact used for serving liquids, was entered into a contest for being on the cover of BAR. 

“I campaigned for myself shamelessly on Facebook, and my friends and family from Hawaii to Iraq voted for me,” Wheeler said.

While Wheeler’s dream of making the cover of BAR has come true, she isn’t stopping there.  She plans to attend Wheaton College for graduate school and eventually become an archaeologist.

“My new future goal is that I would like to get into the magazine again by writing an article or finding something that really impacts the archeology and Bible community.”