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{{Short description|Israeli archaeologist}}
'''Zachi Zweig''' (Heb.:צחי צויג) is an Israeli archaeologist who is noted for having been the first person to recognize the archaeological importance of the debris that was removed from Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and initiated a project for systematic sifting of it.<ref>[http://digs.bib-arch.org/digs/temple-mount.asp Biblical Archaeology Review]</ref>
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Zachi Dvira
|image =Zachi Dvira.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|11|21}}
| nationality = Israeli
| fields =Archeology
| alma_mater = [[Bar-Ilan University]]
}}


'''Zachi (Yitzhak) Dvira''' (Heb.:יצחק דבירה; formerly Zachi Zweig) is an Israeli archaeologist. He co-directs the [[Temple Mount Sifting Project]] and was the first person to recognize the archaeological importance of the debris removed from Temple Mount. He initiated a project for systematic sifting of it.<ref>[http://digs.bib-arch.org/digs/temple-mount.asp Biblical Archaeology Review]</ref>
In 1999 Zweig was a student of archaeology at Bar-Ilan University. Together with a fellow student, Aran Yardeni, he gathered a few friends and began examining the construction rubble dumped by the Islamic [[Waqf]] during the [[Excavations at the Temple Mount|Construction of el-Marwani Mosque (1996–1999)]] . Just as they began collecting artifacts, they were stopped by inspectors from the Israeli Antiquities Authority.
The students managed to retrieve a few artifacts from the dump and displayed them at a conference about new studies on Jerusalem. Their report was followed by a storm in the conference hall. The Antiquities Authority claimed these students are antiquities robbers, but all the archaeologists in attendance deeply supported them and protested against the archaeological destruction of the Temple Mount.


==Biography==
A few days later Zachi Zweig's house was raided by the Antiquities Authority theft unit, and he was detained by the police and accused of conducting antiquities robbery. Charges were pressed against him, but the court quickly dismissed the charges, and asked the prosecution to set aside their accusations.
In 1999, Yitzhak (Zachi) Dvira was a student of archaeology at [[Bar-Ilan University]]. Together with fellow student Aran Yardeni, he and a group of friends began examining the construction rubble dumped by the Islamic [[Waqf]] during the [[Excavations at the Temple Mount|Construction of el-Marwani Mosque (1996–1999)]]. They were stopped by inspectors from the Israeli Antiquities Authority but managed to retrieve a few artifacts from the dump and displayed them at a conference about new studies on Jerusalem. Their report set off a storm in the conference hall. The Antiquities Authority claimed they were antiquities robbers, although the archaeologists in attendance supported them and protested against the archaeological destruction of the Temple Mount.
Prof. [[Gabriel Barkay]], one of Israel’s most senior archaeologists, supported the students’ efforts, joined forces with Zachi Zweig, and together they began working towards the establishment of a project for systematically sifting the debris from the Temple Mount. Since the Temple Mount has never been excavated, the artifacts retrieved from the debris could still provide valuable information, even though they are out of context. Most artifacts can be identified and dated by comparison with artifacts found elsewhere in Israel. In addition, since the material is from the Temple Mount, it was expected that many unique artifacts would be found.
They raised funds and spent 5 years getting a license to conduct an archaeological dig. In 2004 they obtained the license and 285 truckloads of rubble were moved to a vacant lot on the slopes of Jerusalem's [[Mount Scopus]], where Zweig directs a dig that sifts and examines every bucketful of dirt and rubble removed form the Temple Mount.


A few days later Dvira's house was raided by the Antiquities Authority theft unit. He was detained by the police and accused of conducting antiquities robbery. Charges were pressed against him, but the court dismissed the charges.
The first coin that Zweig and his associates discovered was issued during the [[First Jewish–Roman War]] that preceded the Roman destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The [[First Jewish Revolt coinage|ancient Jewish coin]] is stamped with the Hebrew words "Freedom of Zion."<ref name="fox">{{Cite web|title=Mideast Holy Site, What Is Treasure?|date= November 17, 2006|author=Matti Friedman, Associated Press|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Nov17/0,4670,IsraelTempleTrove,00.html|accessdate=January 27, 2010}}</ref>


==Archaeology career==
The most valuable find so far may be is a clay [[Bulla (seal)|seal]] impression. The incomplete Hebrew lettering appears to show the name Ge'aliyahu, son of Immer. Immer is the name of a family of temple officials that is mentioned in {{bibleref2|Jeremiah|20:1}}.<ref name="fox" />
===Temple Mount Sifting Project===
[[Gabriel Barkay]], one of Israel’s most senior archaeologists, joined forces with Zachi Dvira, and together they organized a project for systematically sifting the debris from the Temple Mount. Since the Temple Mount has never been excavated, the artifacts retrieved from the debris could still provide valuable information, even though they are out of context. Most artifacts can be identified and dated by comparison with artifacts found elsewhere in Israel. They raised funds and spent 5 years getting a license to conduct an archaeological dig. In 2004 they obtained the license and 285 truckloads of rubble were moved to a vacant lot on the slopes of Jerusalem's [[Mount Scopus]], where Dvira directs a dig that sifts and examines every bucketful of dirt and rubble removed from the Temple Mount.


The first coin discovered was issued during the [[First Jewish–Roman War]] that preceded the Roman destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. The [[First Jewish Revolt coinage|ancient Jewish coin]] is stamped with the Hebrew words "Freedom of Zion."<ref name="fox">{{Cite web|title=Mideast Holy Site, What Is Treasure?|date= November 17, 2006|author=Matti Friedman, Associated Press|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Nov17/0,4670,IsraelTempleTrove,00.html|access-date=January 27, 2010}}</ref>
Zweig has found many evidence of Byzantine remains of structures that existed on the Temple Mount during the Byzantine era. This appears to disprove the idea that the site was abandoned in that period.<ref name="fox" /> Major evidence were retrieved by Zweig from the British Mandate Antiquities Department archive.

The most valuable find so far may be a clay [[Bulla (seal)|seal]] impression. The incomplete Hebrew lettering appears to show the name Ge'aliyahu, son of Immer. Immer is the name of a family of temple officials mentioned in {{bibleref2|Jeremiah|20:1}}.<ref name="fox" />

Dvira has found remains of structures that existed on the Temple Mount during the Byzantine era, which appears to disprove the claim that the site was abandoned in that period.<ref name="fox" /> Major evidence were retrieved by Dvira from the British Mandate Antiquities Department archive.{{clarify|reason=What, just the Hamilton mosaics? For those see here further, not convincing. Anything else? Weasle wording.|date=April 2022}}{{cn|date=April 2022}} His dating of the mosaics found by Hamilton to the Byzantine period has been contradicted though by fellow archaeologists in 2018, who date them to the Umayyad period based on their similarity with mosaics excavated in Umayyad Palace III next to the Temple Mount's southern wall.<ref name=Baruch>{{cite journal |author=[[Yuval Baruch|Baruch, Yuval]] |author2=[[Ronny Reich|Reich, Ronny]] |author3= Sandhaus, Débora |title= A Decade of Archaeological Exploration on the Temple Mount |journal= Tel Aviv |volume= 45 |issue=1 |year= 2018 |pages= 3–22 [13–14] |doi= 10.1080/03344355.2018.1412057 |s2cid= 166015732 |url= https://www.academia.edu/37652052 |access-date= 29 April 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Archaeology of Israel]]
*[[Temple Mount Sifting Project]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME =Zweig, Zachi
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dvira, Zachi}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Israeli archaeologist
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zweig, Zachi}}
[[Category:Israeli archaeologists]]
[[Category:Israeli archaeologists]]
[[Category:Bar-Ilan University alumni]]
[[Category:Bar-Ilan University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1972 births]]

Latest revision as of 08:31, 30 October 2024

Zachi Dvira
Born (1972-11-21) November 21, 1972 (age 52)
NationalityIsraeli
Alma materBar-Ilan University
Scientific career
FieldsArcheology

Zachi (Yitzhak) Dvira (Heb.:יצחק דבירה; formerly Zachi Zweig) is an Israeli archaeologist. He co-directs the Temple Mount Sifting Project and was the first person to recognize the archaeological importance of the debris removed from Temple Mount. He initiated a project for systematic sifting of it.[1]

Biography

[edit]

In 1999, Yitzhak (Zachi) Dvira was a student of archaeology at Bar-Ilan University. Together with fellow student Aran Yardeni, he and a group of friends began examining the construction rubble dumped by the Islamic Waqf during the Construction of el-Marwani Mosque (1996–1999). They were stopped by inspectors from the Israeli Antiquities Authority but managed to retrieve a few artifacts from the dump and displayed them at a conference about new studies on Jerusalem. Their report set off a storm in the conference hall. The Antiquities Authority claimed they were antiquities robbers, although the archaeologists in attendance supported them and protested against the archaeological destruction of the Temple Mount.

A few days later Dvira's house was raided by the Antiquities Authority theft unit. He was detained by the police and accused of conducting antiquities robbery. Charges were pressed against him, but the court dismissed the charges.

Archaeology career

[edit]

Temple Mount Sifting Project

[edit]

Gabriel Barkay, one of Israel’s most senior archaeologists, joined forces with Zachi Dvira, and together they organized a project for systematically sifting the debris from the Temple Mount. Since the Temple Mount has never been excavated, the artifacts retrieved from the debris could still provide valuable information, even though they are out of context. Most artifacts can be identified and dated by comparison with artifacts found elsewhere in Israel. They raised funds and spent 5 years getting a license to conduct an archaeological dig. In 2004 they obtained the license and 285 truckloads of rubble were moved to a vacant lot on the slopes of Jerusalem's Mount Scopus, where Dvira directs a dig that sifts and examines every bucketful of dirt and rubble removed from the Temple Mount.

The first coin discovered was issued during the First Jewish–Roman War that preceded the Roman destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. The ancient Jewish coin is stamped with the Hebrew words "Freedom of Zion."[2]

The most valuable find so far may be a clay seal impression. The incomplete Hebrew lettering appears to show the name Ge'aliyahu, son of Immer. Immer is the name of a family of temple officials mentioned in Jeremiah 20:1.[2]

Dvira has found remains of structures that existed on the Temple Mount during the Byzantine era, which appears to disprove the claim that the site was abandoned in that period.[2] Major evidence were retrieved by Dvira from the British Mandate Antiquities Department archive.[clarification needed][citation needed] His dating of the mosaics found by Hamilton to the Byzantine period has been contradicted though by fellow archaeologists in 2018, who date them to the Umayyad period based on their similarity with mosaics excavated in Umayyad Palace III next to the Temple Mount's southern wall.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Biblical Archaeology Review
  2. ^ a b c Matti Friedman, Associated Press (November 17, 2006). "Mideast Holy Site, What Is Treasure?". Fox News. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  3. ^ Baruch, Yuval; Reich, Ronny; Sandhaus, Débora (2018). "A Decade of Archaeological Exploration on the Temple Mount". Tel Aviv. 45 (1): 3–22 [13–14]. doi:10.1080/03344355.2018.1412057. S2CID 166015732. Retrieved 29 April 2022.