The City of David / Silwan

This chapter reports on early, recent, and current excavations in the City of David / Silwan. Part of the discussion is based on the fieldwork results from a professional standpoint, evaluating the scholarly discourse on material culture as well as the related typological and chronological assessments. It examines how surveys and excavations conducted in the area over 150 years have contributed to our knowledge of Bronze and Iron Age Jerusalem, how perceptions have changed over time, and why the same physical evidence has led to diverse and sometimes even opposing interpretations. The major part of this chapter is devoted to an in-depth analysis on how archaeological methodologies have been compromised by religious and political agendas. The recent activities of Elad, their involvement in fieldwork, scholarship, site management, and education, are evaluated independently and also in light of recent criticism voiced by another Israeli NGO, Emek Shaveh. Finally, the relationship of both institutions with the Israeli, and the Palestinian public, and their impact on local and international opinions and policies is scrutinized.