Community Excavation: Ein Lamur/Ein Limon

The film documents a community archaeological excavation conducted by Emek Shaveh with participation of residents of Ein Rafa village, west of Jerusalem. The excavation focused on the ancient pool Ein Limon/’Ein Lamur located at the edge of the village. The cooperation between Emek Shaveh archaeologists and the residents combined the return to physical work and to the land with learning about archaeological research methods and local history.

The village residents were involved in every stage of the dig—planning, excavating, and discussing the finds and their significance. In Emek Shaveh we believe that a community excavation is a valuable means to foster a community’s connection to its environment and to the remains of the past. This stems from the perception that historical remains do not belong to a particular nation, but are integral to the place where they have left their mark.