The West Bank and East Jerusalem Archaeological Database: Narratives of Archaeology and Archaeological Practices

Abstract

• Since their occupation in 1967, the West Bank and East Jerusalem have been subject to extensive archaeological surveys and excavations, carried out mostly by Israeli archaeologists. Data on thousands of surveyed and excavated archaeological sites has been compiled into one comprehensive source of information, the West Bank and East Jerusalem Archaeological Database. This database is as complete a synthesis as possible of the archaeological activity conducted by Israel in the occupied territories from 1967 to 2007. This paper presents the database’s sources, structure, and data, accompanied by a few search and query examples using ArcGIS. It also engages in a critical discussion on the database’s contents and its limitations as a regional archaeological database, which in turn opens a window into Israeli archaeological practices in the West Bank.