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Ancient Jerusalem is a unique archaeological site of global importance for three main reasons: It is identified with the beginning of habitation in Jerusalem and was the capital of ancient Israelite kingdoms; it is located in a Palestinian village; and it is close to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif - one of the most politically and religiously sensitive places in the Middle East. All of these characteristics present great challenges to any research undertaken in the area, both from an archaeological perspective and in terms of the social and political implications of the work. In recent years, archaeology has been playing an increasingly crucial role in the political struggle in East Jerusalem in general and the site of ancient Jerusalem/the village of Silwan in particular.
In our work we have identified a number of important areas of concern arising from the relationship between archaeological research and the various groups active in and around site:
- The role of archeology in the creation of historical narratives as they are told to the public and their impact on public opinion.
- The impact of archaeology on the community which lives in and around the archaeological-tourist sites.
- The way archaeology is being used to justify Jewish settlement and strengthen settlement activity in a highly disputed and sensitive area.
In the following pages we will propose an alternative role for archaeology in ancient Jerusalem. This alternative vision will address the official Israeli version of the past that is offered to the public together with the political and social problems that have arisen due to the fact that the site is being managed by a settler group with a political agenda. We will also address the methods and approaches used by the various state authorities responsible for the archaeological activity at the site.
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