Palestinian Looted Tombs and their Archaeological Investigation
Date
2017-06-21
Authors
Al-Houdalieh, Salah H.
Bernbeck, Reinhard
Pollock, Susan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Penn State University Press
Abstract
This report describes archaeological rescue work in four
looted tombs from late Roman and early Byzantine times
in the surroundings of Ramallah, located in the Occupied
Palestinian National Territories (OPNT). One goal of our
work was to assess in detail how much of the original
remains of a tomb are left behind after looting. A second
aim was to explore the actual practices of looting by
comparing interviews with looters with the results of an
archaeological examination of looting practices of these
tombs. This provides a unique comparative perspective
that draws on oral history and its material correlates.
Finally, this work helps to assess future possibilities for
reconstructing what has been lost during looting events.
The results of the research include unexpected insights,
such as the repetitive character of looting single tombs,
the presence of modern material remains of the looting
process itself, but also the use of previously looted tombs
for new purposes.
Description
Keywords
Palestine , Roman period , antiquities looting , Byzantine period , vandalized tombs
Citation
TY - JOUR AU - Al-Houdalieh, Salah AU - Bernbeck, Reinhard AU - Pollock PY - 2017/01/01 SP - 198 T1 - Palestinian Looted Tombs and their Archaeological Investigation VL - 5 DO - 10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.5.2.0198 JO - Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology & Heritage Studies ER -