Vast collection of antiquities now online as Israel launches new archaeological database

The Israel Antiques Authority announced the launch of the Israel National Archaeological Database this week, opening up literally millions of treasures to the public by making them available to view online.

Visitors can browse pictures and publications, explore 3-D scans, archive documents, excavation reports and more on the searchable site, empirically proving the history of the land of Israel.

It doesn’t take much digging in Israel to uncover ancient collections from ages past. Before any new building project begins, experts are required to inspect the ground for antiquities – and time and again, a wealth of historical treasures is unearthed. Warehouses are now overflowing with pottery shards, ancient coins, and all manner of artifacts from Israel’s long history. But now, these finds have been made accessible to the public through the newly launched Israel National Archaeological Database.

Both scholars and schoolchildren can explore almost 4 million records of a vast array of artifacts – 964,393 objects to be exact. With over 1.2 million images and more than 15,000 interactive 3D models of artifacts and excavation sites, this project is one of the largest archaeological repositories in the world.

The innovative portal is not only an invaluable resource for archeology enthusiasts, but centralizes all the archaeological information that has been painstakingly collected and researched over the years. Now the information gleaned by experts has been made available to anyone with access to the internet all over the world.

The interactive geographic search feature includes a clickable map which can be explored according to areas of interest, immediately pulling up all the relevant archaeological information, including findings, excavation documents, and professional publications.

Alby Malka, Head of the Technologies Division at the Israel Antiquities Authority, shared the pressing need for the project: “In a country with a rich heritage like Israel, a huge collection of archaeological information from all periods has been collected over the years,” he explained. 

“By Israeli law, every archaeological find that is uncovered must be reported, documented and deposited in the National Archives. As a result, data constantly gathers under the aegis of the Israel Antiquities Authority on many archaeological digs, as well as on hundreds of thousands of ancient items – from scrolls and coins to pottery, jewelry and archaic architectural elements.” 

“A national archaeological database, which gathers and makes all this knowledge accessible both to the lay public and to researchers, is a tool of paramount importance for scientific research, for preserving the country’s heritage, and for deepening public knowledge, with tools accessible and inviting to the younger generation.” 

He continued, “This database represents a real revolution. Instead of spending months physically traveling and searching in print archives and reports, any researcher anywhere in the world – and really any person, there are no restrictions – can type in a single word or mark a point on the map, and receive all the available collected information in seconds, directly into their hands. This is truly a monumental and transformative leap forward that at once puts Israel at the forefront of global archaeological research.”

Chief Scientist of the Israel Antiquities Authority Dr. Débora Sandhaus also pointed out the enormous value of making the information available to the world, saying, “The Israel National Archive for Archaeology is not only a treasure for Israel, but is a global asset. It gives the international scientific community unique access from any computer in the world to vast knowledge about the history of the Levant, and enables a large-scale comparative study, which was never even possible until now.”

In a statement, Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority addressed the benefits of having so much evidence freely available to anyone who is curious, saying, “In an age where there is a growing need for access to reliable and well-grounded knowledge, the Israel National Archaeological Database is an expression of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s commitment to transparency and professionalism.”

“This database reflects the great wealth of archaeological research in Israel across all periods and all cultures, since this country has been a crossroads throughout human history, and we preserve and report all of it – we are the guardians of the footprint of every creed, culture and religion that ever walked though this land – that is our moral and legal mandate. The online National Archive embodies a universal, fundamental template that makes our human heritage accessible to the general public and researchers worldwide,” he said.