UCL Institute of Archaeology

Archaeological Inventories, GIS and Cultural Heritage Management in the West Bank

My dissertation considers variability in data quality and recording emphasis in archaeological inventories from the West Bank (occupied Palestinian territories), as well as the way that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for heritage management in the region. Essentially, I am interested in finding out what kinds of data are recorded, what kinds of priorities lie behind different databases, who created them, in what context, how they differ or are similar to one another, how data is being disseminated, who uses what data, and, as a result, what impact such datasets are likely to have on heritage management in the West Bank.

This research is framed by the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli occupation of the West Bank. This historical relationship is relevant on two levels: first, the social, ideological, religious and cultural dissonances present in this region are important contributing and sustaining factors behind the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; some of these are linked, directly or indirectly, with issues of cultural heritage. Second, the practicalities of the current state-of-affairs in the West Bank, especially the division of jurisdiction and the way Israelis and Palestinian institutions are conducting themselves within the present framework, significantly impact different aspects of cultural heritage management. The management of cultural resources in general, and of archaeological resources in particular, is tightly related to and influenced by both of these facets of the conflict. In my dissertation I explore the impact of inventory creation and use from past, present and future perspectives: I will look into the past data collection and creation of databases, also consider present use of existing databases and current perceptions of the archaeological landscape, and ultimately address possible future improvements in data management and sharing.

Funding organisation

• Frederick Bonnart-Braunthal Trust
• UCL Overseas Research Scholarship
• UCL Global Excellence Award
• UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology

Supervisors

• Tim Williams
• Andrew Bevan 
• Nazmi Al-Ju’beh

 Educational background

• BA, Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures, Tel Aviv University, 2002
• MA, Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, 2007

Keinan, A. forthcoming. The Archaeological Site Database for the West Bank, in: T.E. Levy, S.H. Savage, C. Baru and O. LaBianca (eds.), Portal Science and Archaeology – Views from the Mediterranean Lands. Equinox Handbooks in Anthropological Archaeology. London: Equinox.

Keinan, A. forthcoming. Lower J, in: I. Finkelstein, D. Ussishkin, M. Adams, E. Arie, E. Cline, N. Franklin and M. Martin (eds.), Megiddo V: The 2004-2008 Seasons. Monograph Series of the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology. Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv University/Institute of Archaeology.

Keinan, A. 2010. Archaeological Inventories and Cultural Heritage Management in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Forum Archaeologiae 55/VI/2010 (http://farch.net).

Keinan, A. 2009. Conference Review: WAC Inter-Congress Archaeology in Conflict, Vienna, Austria, 6-10 April 2010. Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites 11(3-4): 354-355.

Greenberg, R. and Keinan, A. 2009. Israeli Archaeological Activity in the West Bank 1967-2007: A Sourcebook: The West Bank and East Jerusalem Archaeological Database Project. Jerusalem: Ostracon.

Keinan, A. 2007. The Megiddo Picture Pavement: Evidence for Egyptian Presence in Northern Israel during Early Bronze Age I (unpublished M.A. thesis). Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv University. (Hebrew, with English abstract)

Keinan, A. 2007. Pavement Stone Depicting a Figure with a Harp, in: J. Goodnick-Westenholz (ed.), Sounds of Ancient Music. Jerusalem: Keter Press: 152.

Greenberg, R. and Keinan, A. 2007. The Present Past of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Israeli Archaeology in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967. The S. Daniel Abraham Center for International and Regional Studies, Research Papers: No. 1. Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv University.

Conference Presentations

November 2006, American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) Conference, Washington DC: The Picture Pavement and Egyptian Presence in Megiddo in the Early Bronze Age I.

April 2008, The Archaeological Heritage: Towards Negotiations with the Palestinians, Jerusalem: Israeli Archaeological Activity in Judea and Samaria since 1967.

November 2008. Cyberinfrastructure for the MedArchNet (Mediterranean Archaeology Network) Workshop: CISA3-Calit2, University of California San Diego (UCSD): The Archaeological Site Database for the West Bank

November 2009, UCL Institute of Archaeology Graduate Students Conference, London: Archaeological Inventories and Cultural Heritage Management in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

February 2010, Computer Applications in Archaeology (CAA) UK Conference, London: Archaeological Databases and GIS as Cultural Heritage Management Tools in the Context of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

April 2010, Archaeology in Conflict, World Archaeological Congress (WAC) and the Association of National Committees of the Blue Shield (ANCBS), Vienna; 7th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (7ICAANE), London: Archaeological Inventories and Cultural Heritage Management in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

June 2012, The 10th Anniversary Conference of the Frederick Bonnart-Braunthal Trust, hosted by the Centre for the Study of Human Rights, LSE: Tolerance in a Just and Fair Society: The Case of Archaeological Documentation and Cultural Intolerance in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank