Archaeology in the Shadow of the Conflict

The Mound of Ancient Jerusalem (City of David) in Silwan

The subject of this booklet is archaeology in the heart of Jerusalem, one of the most complex cities in the world. We will focus primarily on the mound of ancient Jerusalem, also known as the City of David, located on a ridge south of the Temple Mount, presently part of Palestinian Silwan, and will examine the relationship between archaeological research and the various interest groups active in the village and the site.
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.

From Shiloah to Silwan Visitor\'s Guide

Ancient Jerusalem (City of David) and the village of Silwan

The visitor\'s guide is based on Emek Shaveh’s archeological tour in the village of Silwan and at the City of David national park. The tour, initiated in 2007, is led by Israeli archeologists in cooperation with Palestinian residents of Silwan. The guide focuses on the remains of past cultures found in the archeological site of ancient Jerusalem (City of David), while acknowledging the Palestinian village of Silwan in which the site is situated. It gives the visitor the tools for an independent appreciation of the variety of cultures and eras represented at the site, with an emphasis on everyday life.
The village of Silwan is adjacent to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Any action taken in an area of conflict affects and is affected by that conflict. Therefore, no archeological excavation, tourist trail, or even tour guide can be free of politics. This guide does not presume to ignore the political situation, nor does it claim to be objective. On the contrary, the goal of the guide is to arouse awareness of the reality in Silwan today, and of the role that archeology plays, both in the conflict and in the understanding of the past of the city.

The guide offers several stories and hypotheses about the history of the city and about the interpretation of its remains. We do not pretend to be exhaustive. Archaeological research is dynamic; new theories and hypotheses shed light on our understanding of the archeological remains. Even a casual visit to the site can inspire new interpretations of the past, sometimes of no less value than those offered by scholars.

The guide proposes a number of routes through the archeological site and the village of Silwan: for example, you may choose to focus either on the village or on the archeological park, or take a combined route that includes both the village and the park. Whatever your choice may be, the visit to the site and to the village is a personal one, and the guide is a tool that will help you create this personal experience. It is our hope that you will share the personal experience and what is written in this guide with those around you.