Israel Antiquities Authority

IAA

The Israel Antiquities Authority is the pre-eminent organization in the field of Israeli archaeology. It is responsible for all matters of archaeology in Israel including land and marine excavations, development and protection of archaeological sites, archaeological research, education, publication, conservation and restoration of objects and sites, and exhibitions of archaeological material in Israel and abroad. It is the keeper of the State Treasures, including nearly 2 million archaeological objects among them the entire collection of Dead Sea Scrolls, and more than 30,000 archaeological sites.

The IAA archives hold scientific files from the days of the British Mandate until the latest excavations. IAA preserves, conserves and studies the archaeological heritage of the Israel at the highest scientific level, and maintains a balance between development needs and antiquities preservation.

Israel Antiquities Authority participation in EDICULA aims to bring to the consortium valuable experience and knowhow relevant to the archaeological challenges involved in the protection of cultural heritage. Through its expertise, IAA will share innovation and technological and scientific advancements that can be utilized for the enrichment of the educational processes of the EDICULA project.

People

Seligman Jon

Dr

on@israntique.org.il

CV

Jon Seligman is an Archaeologist and Director of External Relations and Archaeological Licensing of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Presently the Director of Director of External Relations and Archaeological Licensing of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Previously the Director of the Excavations, Surveys and Research Department for eight years, twelve years as the Jerusalem Regional Archaeologist and six as a research archaeologist.  Dr. Seligman studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and University College London, receiving his doctorate (summa-cum-laude) from Haifa University on the subject of the ‘Rural Hinterland of Jerusalem during the Byzantine period’. Jon has directed some thirty excavations in Jerusalem, Bet Shean, in the Carmel Mountains and recently to uncover the remains of the Great Synagogue of Vilna (Lithuania) and has published widely, including three books (on the Temple Mount, the Holy Sepulchre and the Roman farm at Nahal Haggit), and numerous chapters and articles in refereed books, journals and other publications. He also participated in the planning team for the Master Plan for the city and Old City of Jerusalem.

Avni Gideon

Dr

gideon@israntique.org.il

CV

Gideon Avni (PhD – 1997) is the Head of the Archaeological Division in the Israel Antiquities Authority and a lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University. In 1989 – 2000 he was the IAA Jerusalem District Archaeologist.

His academic interests focus on various aspects of Classical, Late Antique and Early Islamic archaeology, the cultural and religious transformation of the Near East from Byzantine to Islamic rule, and the archaeology of desert societies in the Levant. During the last 30 years he has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Negev Desert (1979-1988; 2005-2011), Beth Govrin (1983-1992), Jerusalem (1984-2003) and Ramla (2002-2004). In 1996-2002 he headed a comprehensive survey and excavations project at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In 2004-2007 he co-directed a research team supported by the Israel Science foundation on the urban centers of Palestine in the Early Islamic period. He was a fellow at Institute of Advanced Studies of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (2008-2009). He is currently a member of a research group of the Hebrew University and the Israel Academy of Sciences on the formation of Islamic society in Palestine, and a co-director of an interdisciplinary study on the ancient agriculture of the Negev during Byzantine and Early Islamic times.

Wiegmann Alex

Dr

alexw@israntique.org.il

CV

Karasik Avshalom

Dr

avshalom@israntique.org.il

CV