Call for Cleanup: Magnificent Jerusalem Tombs a Garbage Dump

The site described in this article is for all practical purposes inaccessible. Very obviously, that shouldn’t be the case.

According to one of Israel’s leading archaeologists, Dr. Gabriel Barkay of Tel Aviv University, “This group of decorated tombs is the only one of its kind in Israel, and represents a peak of the Jewish art during the Second Temple period.”¹

Whether it is the “Field of Blood” described in the New Testament, or the burial ground of the high priest Annas, or simply some of the most magnificent tombs to have survived from the Second Temple Period, this site should be cleaned, appropriately marked, fenced and a guard posted at the entrance.

Not long ago, as Bedouin worked their way up the valley in search of green pastures, they would pitch their tents in front of the entrances to these burial caves. This gave them well-protected extra rooms. Frequently they would build fires in the burial caves, especially when it rained. That is why the walls and ceilings are blackened with soot. For additional storage, they would simply carve out a ledge or a niche in the wall. When they left, they would sometimes leave garbage behind. If not the Bedouin, there would be squatters living in the tombs.