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Archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem capture worldwide attention in various media outlets. The continuing quest to discover the city’s physical remains is not simply an attempt to define Israel’s past or determine its historical legacy. In the context of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is also an attempt to legitimate—or undercut—national claims to sovereignty. Bridging the ever-widening gap between popular coverage and specialized literature, Finding Jerusalem provides a comprehensive tour of the politics of archaeology in the city. Through a wide-ranging discussion of the material evidence, Katharina Galor illuminates the complex legal contexts and ethical precepts that underlie archaeological activity and the discourse of "cultural heritage" in Jerusalem. This book addresses the pressing need to disentangle historical documentation from the religious aspirations, social ambitions, and political commitments that shape its interpretation.

About the Author

Katharina Galor teaches Judaic Studies and Urban Studies at Brown University. She is the coauthor of The Archaeology of Jerusalem: From the Origins to the Ottomans.

Reviews

"[Finding Jerusalem] should . . . hold wide appeal among multi-disciplinary scholars from a range of fields."
— Arab Studies Quarterly

"Katharina Galor has written a brilliant book on the contested historical roles of archaeology in modern Jerusalem, a city torn by religious, ideological, and political conflicts.This is a must-read for both scholars and laymen interested in the fascinating, tormented history of the Holy City."—Yaron Ezrahi, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

"Archaeology aspires to scientific objectivity, but it also works as a form of politics, and there is no clearer example of this than the effort to excavate the history of Jerusalem. In a work made possible by her remarkable ability to move between Israeli and Palestinian perspectives, Katharina Galor uncovers the political dimensions of archaeology as practiced in Jerusalem, bringing to bear her expertise as an archaeologist and an intimate knowledge of the city and its history. Finding Jerusalem makes for a unique tour of Jerusalem, a survey of how archaeology contributes to the contentiousness of this most politically fraught of sacred spaces."—Steven Weitzman, Abraham M. Ellis Professor of Hebrew and Semitic Languages and Literatures and Ella Darivoff Director of the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, University of Pennsylvania