They say that anywhere you dig in Israel, you find history. It appears that rings true once more.
A crumbling sea-side cliff outside the city of Ashkelon revealed an ancient Roman statute. The land area known today as Israel has been home to some of the world’s greatest civilizations, including the ancient Jews, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Persians, the Ottoman Turks and, yes, even the British. Others have tried conquering the land of Israel, and the antiquities and artificats of all these civilizations are buried under the feet of Israelis today, waiting to be uncovered.
Some of these amazing sites — such as Cesarea, Mesada and the walls of the Temple — are open to tourists and enrich the lives of Israelis and foreigners alike.
However, there is extensive sensitivity when excavations that occur on or near the Temple Mount, which is holy to Muslims and Jews alike. Excavation in the area often includes major machinery that archeologists complain causes destruction of artifacts. Also, the Muslim authority with jurisdiction over the Temple Mount has destroyed artifacts that have reportedly indicated ancient Jewish presence in the area.
