The Israel Antiquities Authority has unveiled a new exhibition, Rising from the Ashes, shedding light on the extraordinary role played by archaeologists during the Israel-Hamas War and the aftermath of October 7.
The exhibition, which opened to the public on August 6, is being held at The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.
Through evocative visual materials and advanced technological displays, the exhibition reveals how the IAA mobilized its expertise and methods in response to the national crisis.
Archaeologists participated in the search for missing persons in the Gaza border communities. The exhibition also showcases the 3D documentation and modeling of destruction across homes and settlements in the region.
Michal Gabay, the mother of Shani Gabay, who was missing for more than 40 days after losing contact with her parents just after 8:30 a.m. on October 7, was a guest of honor at the exhibit. Gabay’s husband immediately left their home to drive south in an effort to rescue their daughter, but the family was unsuccessful.
“I was on the phone with Shani as she got to the shelter in Alumim. I was on the phone with her as they threw bombs into the shelter, as she shouted that her friends Ben and Gali had lost their legs. She told me that terrorists were there, shooting everywhere,” Gabay told The Jerusalem Post.
Shani was killed in an ambulance where she was hiding, along with more than 16 others, after an anti-tank missile was fired at the vehicle, killing everyone inside seeking refuge.
Gabay played a crucial role in the exhibit, as she and her daughter shared stories of their beloved Shani, her passion for celebration, and the critical role of archaeologists in helping to identify the remains of people senselessly slaughtered in the massacre – many of whom were set ablaze. The bereaved family shared their tales, projected onto three giant tablets at the start of the exhibition.
The critical role that archaeology and cultural heritage can play in times of crisis
The exhibition is a joint initiative of the IAA, the Heritage Ministry, and the Tekuma Directorate. According to the organizers, the exhibition highlights the critical role that archaeology and cultural heritage can play in times of crisis.
Archaeologist and field photographer Assaf Peretz told the Post that they uncovered far more than human remains and shards of bone. Peretz spoke of sifting through the home of two grandparents who were murdered in the massacre and uncovering one of the last things he expected: surviving family photos.
“Usually when you find something emotional, it’s when you find personal belongings that survived the fire. We had a very emotional case where we were able to find 15 photographs that survived the fire... and a few charred drawings that were made for [the] grandpa,” he said. Peretz added that being able to provide these findings to the mourning family helped emphasize the importance of his role.
The Alejandro Weinstein Crenovich Exhibition: Rising from the Ashes – Archaeology in a National Crisis promises to be a powerful and thought-provoking experience, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of archaeology, culture, and national identity.