The Terra Sancta Museum through the eyes of an Israeli Archaeologist
David Gurevich is the director of the Institute of Archaeology at Ariel University. He loves fascinating discoveries in Jerusalem. A licensed tour guide for over 20 years, he discovered the Terra Sancta Museum-SBF Archaeological Museum through his professional network. From now on, he regularly accompanies groups of enthusiasts, students, and scholars through the museum’s collections. We sat down with him for an interview to understand one of the scientific contributions of the museum.
David, can you tell us about your research in Jerusalem and your discoveries?
I specialize in the study of Jerusalem during the Roman period, particularly the Second Temple era. I began my PhD by researching the city’s large water pools, which were primarily used by pilgrims. During certain times of the year, such as Passover, Jerusalem’s population would skyrocket, and it was essential to manage the water supply to meet the needs of the pilgrims. Throughout my research, I discovered numerous water basins, mainly outside the city, used to store water during peak periods. These findings provide valuable insight into water management at the time and its role in the social and religious life of the city’s inhabitants.
What about your current research projects?
Now, I’m completing a study on the Antonia Fortress in Jerusalem in which I reconstruct its architecture. I discovered, by correlating Josephus and archaeological data, that the Antonia was a very tall tower, ca. 120 x 35 m, located in the proximity to the site of the Terra Sancta Museum. In my research, I am showing how the Roman military assault against the Temple Mount developed in the First Revolt (70 CE) articulating the text and the archaeological findings in the field.
Another project that I am involved in is studying the famous Magdala Stone, which was revealed in a synagogue of the time of Jesus (1st century CE). This artifact is a unique object, and archaeologists struggle to explain it. My team tries a completely different approach, by working with mechanical engineers, architects and even people from the industrial design sphere, we attempt “reverse engineering” method.
You mentioned the Terra Sancta Museum. Why do you recommend it?
It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in history and archaeology. I often take groups there because it houses major discoveries, such as the collection of Jewish ossuaries found at Dominus Flevit.
These stone boxes which were used for collecting bones provide a unique perspective on the daily life of the Jewish community in the 1st century: For instance, we can learn about the languages that people spoke in the time of Jesus by studying the names on the ossuaries. The museum also offers a constantly evolving exhibition, with new objects and findings that enrich our understanding of Jerusalem and its past.
Was there a particular object in the museum that made a strong impression on you?
The mosaic from Magdala is fascinating. It features a fish and a boat, symbols that are quite rare in Jewish contexts from that time. In addition, a mysterious octopus-like object linked to the Roman bathing culture was depicted on the mosaic, raising intriguing questions about the social and religious practices of the local population. The artifact is probably a set of strigils, scrapers used to scrap the bather’s skin in a bathhouse. Jews in the 1st century CE avoided attending Roman public bathhouses, and we don’t have even a single example of a public bathhouse in Jerusalem. Perhaps the people who laid this mosaic had a very different perspective on this issue?
As a researcher, what do you think of the museum’s development?
It’s an incredible place. The Terra Sancta Museum continues to grow year after year, and it’s a real pleasure to see new spaces and collections opening to the public. The upcoming floor dedicated to the inscriptions, and which exhibits also the findings outside the Holy Land is particularly promising. It’s essential that these discoveries remain accessible, and I’m glad to see the Franciscans investing so much to make it a leading institution. I would like also to commend the museum planners who made the exhibitions and the multimedia show in multi-lingual form, including in Hebrew.
