Bringing the Past to Life

What does archaeology in Israel look like today, and who decides what should be excavated, preserved, or presented to the public? This final lecture moves from the history of archaeology to the challenges and opportunities facing the field in the twenty-first century.

It examines Israel’s Antiquities Law and the roles of the Israel Antiquities Authority, universities, national parks, museums, local authorities, development companies, and other organizations involved in archaeological research and heritage management. Through several major projects, the lecture explores how excavation, research, conservation, development, tourism, and public access intersect in contemporary Israeli archaeology.

These projects show that archaeology today is about more than discovering the past: it also involves deciding how that past will survive and what it will mean for future generations.