ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter starts with a description of a tour to the City of David/Silwan in 2016, presenting the tension between ancient sites/remains and present-day conditions. One must not cut the archaeology from the surroundings. We review the creation and development of the archaeology of East Jerusalem and especially the Western Wall Plaza since 1967. Key players and factors include religious entrepreneurs (Western Wall Heritage Foundation, El-Ad, Ateret Cohanim); governmental and municipal bodies; legal frameworks (the 1967 annexation and enlargement of the municipal area, the Antiquities Law, the 1981 declaration of Holy Sites); and especially the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The book is based on thousands of documents of the IAA, received according to the ‘Freedom of Information’ Law. We explain the structure of the IAA and its management, and the unique procedure of handling salvage excavations in East Jerusalem under ‘status meetings.’ These meetings were dominated by the IAA Director, with the support of officials dealing with inspection and conservation, as well as representatives of the entrepreneurs. Officials related to the Archaeology Administration of the IAA were underrepresented in these meetings and often ignored. Fateful decisions about the heritage of Jerusalem were taken by this narrow, technocratic forum, often by the IAA Director alone, without advice of experts for the archaeology of Jerusalem, whether from the IAA or elsewhere. Subordinates learned to accept the Director’s wishes without criticism. The status of excavating archaeologists deteriorated: they were no longer considered the natural reserve for senior positions in the IAA management. They were relived of responsibilities and authorities, except finishing the excavations as fast as possible in order to enable the developers to carry on with their plans.
