Archaeology, Heritage and Ethics in the Western Wall Plaza, Jerusalem

Raz Kletter completed his PhD in 1995 at Tel Aviv University, Israel, on material culture and borders of Iron Age Judah. Following a post-doctoral year at the University of Oxford, UK, he worked in the Israel Antiquities Authority as Deputy of Finds Department, Senior Archaeologist, and Head of the Scientific Processing Unit. Dr. Kletter participated, directed, and published excavations from varied periods and sites in Israel/Palestine. Since 2008 he is Docent for Near-Eastern Archaeology at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and member of the Centres of Excellence "Changes in Sacred texts and Traditions" (CSTT) and "Ancient Near Eastern Empires" (ANEE). Dr. Kletter's main fields of study are Near Eastern Archaeology (Bronze and Iron Ages), religion and cult, ancient economy, archaeological theory, and history of archaeology in Israel/Palestine. He has published extensively in these fields.

This volume is a critical study of recent archaeology in the Western Wall Plaza area, Jerusalem. Considered one of the holiest places on Earth for Jews and Muslims, it is also a place of controversy, where the State marks 'our' remains for preservation and adoration and 'theirs' for silencing.

Chapter 1: Journey to East Jerusalem - An Introduction; Chapter 2: Antiquities in the Toilettes - The Strauss Building; Chapter 3: Wild Western Wall Tunnels - The Davidson Centre and the Archaeological Park; Chapter 4: A Museum for Jewish Prayer in a Mamluk Bathhouse - The Ohel Yizthak Synagogue; Chapter 5: An Archaeological Site with Depth - The Ha-Liba Building; Chapter 6: Throwing Dust in the Eyes - The Comprehensive Plan for the Western Wall Plaza; Chapter 7: Lingua Orientalis Hierosolimitan; Chapter 8: Pilegsh at Givati - Little Tel Aviv in East Jerusalem; Chapter 9: The Ethics of East Jerusalem; Chapter 10: Conclusions; Appendix: The Documents; Bibliography; Indices (A. Places; B. Persons)