Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Structure
Historical Review of Israel Archaeological practice before 1948 in Palestine Israeli Archaeology and Nationalism after 1948 - Tel Jezreel - The Jewish Quarter Ancient Sites in Modern Battles - Temple Mount - The Hasmonian tunnel Archaeology and Religious Nationalism Comparative look at state formation in Turkey
It can be argued that there is an almost unavoidable or natural relationship between archaeology and nationalismthis relationship is not necessarily corrupt or intrinsically suspect (Kohl et al, 1995, p3)
Web Reference 2
Collective memory
collective memory is more than just an aggregate of individuals' personal memories, and such inevitably cannot possibly capture what an entire nation, for example, collectively considers historically eventful or uneventful. (Zerubavel, 2003, p28)
The Collective memory/history of Jewish people through archaeology lead to the state formation of Israel at the expense of the Arab community. Importance of having a collective memory leads to
Bulldozer archaeology
Web Reference 3
Why?
Used to quickly get down to important stratigraphy Focus on Iron Age through to early Roman (ElHaj, 1998) The search for a Jewish national past overrides other evidence
This creates a primarily nationalistic archaeology Example the biblical site of Jezreel
Tel Jezreel
Research priorities The Iron Age City (El-Haj, 1998, p172) Recorded use of a bulldozer
Web Reference 4
Archaeologists response
I believe the use of a JCB to determine the line of the rockcut Iron Age moat was justified. It was essential to establish the size of the Iron Age enclosure in order to understand properly the site A JCB with a long arm working delicately under archaeological supervision was the right solution: it can do useful work without damaging ancient remains, and I believe that this was the case here. Archaeologist David Usshiskin responds to El Haj accusations, Solomonia Blog, 5 December 2006: http://www.solomonia.com/blog/archives/009649.shtml
Jewish Quarter
Considered central to national heritage Details left out of site reports (e.g. Avigad and the burial cave p171)
- Significant changes in ownership and religion - Modern Day - Governed by the Supreme Muslim Religious Council (Wagf). - Restrictions for non-Muslims put in pic http://www.masada2000.org/jerusalem.html
The HasmonianTunnel
of a new entrance to a tunnel through the old centre of Jerusalem - Violent Palestinian response (picture)
- opening
Around parts of East Jerusalem a massive wall now separates some Palestinian suburbs from the centre of Jerusalem and others from the West Bank put in picture
An article on archaeology and nationalism cannot fail to mention the unique role archaeology has played in the construction of Israel and Israeli national identity. Arguably archaeology has contributed more to this case of state formation than any other (Kohl, 1998, p137)
Conclusion
"societies in fact reconstruct their pasts rather than faithfully record them, and that they do so with the needs of contemporary culture clearly in mind manipulating the past in order to mold the present. (Kammen, 1991) Has the past of Jerusalem been invented or rediscovered? How much of it is socially constructed phenomena (Kohl, 1988), or manipulation for political gain?