open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/76157

The Preservation and Exhibition of Christian Church Sites in Israel

英語

2012

Orient

47

147-168

It has been noted that archaeological research, subsequent preservation works and public exhibitions of historical sites in the Near East are affected by various ideologies. Especially in Israel, political leaders have used archaeology and historical sites to highlight the idea that Palestine has surely been the land of Israel from ancient times. Thus, preservation works and public exhibitions of archaeological sites have concentrated on Jewish history as well. Besides, such heritage management partially supported the Zionism movement and the unification of new citizens in a certain period. However, it has not been discussed enough how non- Jewish sites, such as those of Christians, Muslims and other religious groups, have been treated from the standpoint of heritage management. Therefore, this article takes Christian church sites as examples to examine how non-Jewish sites have been preserved and exhibited in the modern society of Israel. Two organizations, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) and the Franciscan Order, are dealt with in my discussion. According to my analysis, several differences are revealed in their methods of heritage management for church sites. These differences stems not only from the different purposes for which the churches were erected, but also from the agencies’ different sense of the value of the sites when they are preserved and exhibited. While the INPA exhibits church sites as one element of their cultural heritage, which reflects a certain period of Israel’s history, the Franciscans retain them as religious symbols to prove the historical continuity of the Christian faith. These results indicate that several approaches have existed for preserving and exhibiting the ancient churches, which may play an important role in generating the cross- cultural landscape in Israel.

学術雑誌論文

Version of Record

0473-3851

1884-1392