The Friends of the Israel Antiquities Authority serves as the connector of people and projects in Israel operated by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the pre-eminent professional organization in the field of Israeli and Biblical archaeology.
Archaeology captures the imagination like few other subjects, with every new find giving rise to a deeper understanding of people and societies dating back thousands of years. Archaeological remains are integral to Israel’s identity, providing insights into the multi-layered history of a land with an immeasurably rich story to tell through recovered artifacts and myriad forms of material culture, beginning with the paleolithic period. Each year in Israel, more than 300 excavations take place. Fragments derived from an excavation may illuminate key aspects of culture, daily practices, or religion. To date, 33,000 archaeological sites have been declared, illustrating the compelling need to restore, document, preserve and display archaeological discoveries, making the history of the Holy Land accessible to people worldwide.
![5. IAA operation Aerial view. Guy Fitoussi, Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899783441-5KY6FW34FNWVNT814K2H/5.+IAA+operation+Aerial+view.+Guy+Fitoussi%2C+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![9.Rappeling at the desert. Ofer Sion Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899794047-ZZ8M98LOS5HV2CP1HON7/9.Rappeling+at+the+desert.+Ofer+Sion+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![8-rappelling on the way to the Horror Cave- Photo - Highlight films.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899793864-NRVEJ10OMOCZUXBXL9ET/8-rappelling+on+the+way+to+the+Horror+Cave-+Photo+-+Highlight+films.jpg)
![7.Rappeling at the desert. Photo Eitan Kein Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899792437-WDOUDLBQXFU0PWJFS5TO/7.Rappeling+at+the+desert.+Photo+Eitan+Kein+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![10.Archeologists Hagay Hamer and Oriah Amichai sifting finds at the Horro Cave. Eitan Klein Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899803428-S9A9MC3UPC3BLNH7U22H/10.Archeologists+Hagay+Hamer+and+Oriah+Amichai+sifting+finds+at+the+Horro+Cave.+Eitan+Klein+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![11.Sifting finds at the entrance to Murbaat Cave. Photo Yaniv Berman Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899804949-HK9DXI1ABRLFD70DHQBJ/11.Sifting+finds+at+the+entrance+to+Murbaat+Cave.+Photo+Yaniv+Berman+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![15.Excavation in the Murbaat Cave. Yoli Schwartz Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899828053-XR2CF52S34PEUJQTVNEX/15.Excavation+in+the+Murbaat+Cave.+Yoli+Schwartz+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![16.Excavation at Murbaat. Photo Yoli Schwartz Israel Antiquities Auhority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899830345-5M9TVFWZD42Y4SXP8DP8/16.Excavation+at+Murbaat.+Photo+Yoli+Schwartz+Israel+Antiquities+Auhority.jpg)
![17.Dozens of youth took part in the excavations.Photo-Yaniv Berman-Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899839970-RJI8K32NHM2Q5PIGJ6UD/17.Dozens+of+youth+took+part+in+the+excavations.Photo-Yaniv+Berman-Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![18.Dozens of youth took part in the excavations3.Photo-Yaniv Berman-Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899836966-C4615BWAFAC4XPF16I12/18.Dozens+of+youth+took+part+in+the+excavations3.Photo-Yaniv+Berman-Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![19.The moment of the discovery of the scroll. Photo by Highlight Films.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899839428-VTHIJU4DBI4AUFD9A2KT/19.The+moment+of+the+discovery+of+the+scroll.+Photo+by+Highlight+Films.jpg)
![28.The moment youth discovered the ancient basket. Yaniv Berman Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899856251-LTSGTPD6S8F8P2LBMAQY/28.The+moment+youth+discovered+the+ancient+basket.+Yaniv+Berman+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![32.the basket in situ3. Photo Yoli Schwartz Israel Antiquities Authority.jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899856793-87ADGYVLDVNOUDNB7ZKF/32.the+basket+in+situ3.+Photo+Yoli+Schwartz+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpeg)
![29.Basket from Murbaat Cave - Yaniv Berman Israek Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899853372-9SQL0YPV3FN27NE11LSY/29.Basket+from+Murbaat+Cave+-+Yaniv+Berman+Israek+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![30.the basket in situ2. Photo Yaniv Berman Israel Antiquities Authority.jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899854437-DO76TC7GAB1B5QKFV2Q8/30.the+basket+in+situ2.+Photo+Yaniv+Berman+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpeg)
![31.Chaim Cohen and Naama Sukenik of the Israel Antiquities Authority holding the ancient basket. photo Yaniv Berman.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899855502-FM5U7PB6A0MGJMGY6DH9/31.Chaim+Cohen+and+Naama+Sukenik+of+the+Israel+Antiquities+Authority+holding+the+ancient+basket.+photo+Yaniv+Berman.jpg)
![39.Bar Kochva Rebbel Cache- Ofer Sion Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899864712-AC6RM6UOQXH3HOTM7011/39.Bar+Kochva+Rebbel+Cache-+Ofer+Sion+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![27-6000 years skeleton. Photo-Clara Amit Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899852049-MP2SZ53U8ZEEBW0O93N1/27-6000+years+skeleton.+Photo-Clara+Amit+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![3From Right to Left-Raz Frohlich-Tanya Bitler- Avi Cohen-Photo-Shai Halevi Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899792285-WCPNKI6XACZ40FHH9ZRA/3From+Right+to+Left-Raz+Frohlich-Tanya+Bitler-+Avi+Cohen-Photo-Shai+Halevi+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![20.Looking at a new scroll fragment at the Israel Antiquities Authority lab.Photo-Yaniv Berman-.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899842537-4XYNWAW1PPNBQZ4LGOIU/20.Looking+at+a+new+scroll+fragment+at+the+Israel+Antiquities+Authority+lab.Photo-Yaniv+Berman-.jpg)
![21.The Scrolls Fragments before conservation in the IAA Lab. Shai Halevi Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899842965-7JYJAFD3X7RQF6PECOYQ/21.The+Scrolls+Fragments+before+conservation+in+the+IAA+Lab.+Shai+Halevi+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![22.Scroll Parchment as founf in the Horror Cave. Ofer Sion Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899850517-CFQ2XSGTLOY51UJK60LW/22.Scroll+Parchment+as+founf+in+the+Horror+Cave.+Ofer+Sion+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![23.Scroll-Horror Cave-Shai Halevi Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899844005-JAC49M9SX026ITHXMJ2I/23.Scroll-Horror+Cave-Shai+Halevi+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![26.A parchment of the scroll in the IAA Imaging lab-Shai Halevi Israel Antiquities Autority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899846065-WB1IEA7IXTAUDD7S5AHX/26.A+parchment+of+the+scroll+in+the+IAA+Imaging+lab-Shai+Halevi+Israel+Antiquities+Autority.jpg)
![33.Conservation of the basket at the IAA labs Jerusalem. Photo Yaniv Berman Israel Antiquities Authority (2).jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899857191-33Y91PNJPSKAC0MJPT2Y/33.Conservation+of+the+basket+at+the+IAA+labs+Jerusalem.+Photo+Yaniv+Berman+Israel+Antiquities+Authority+%282%29.jpg)
![34.Consevation of the Basket. Photo-Yaniv Berman Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899861261-BMHAV2EHKF09NP4N2X2F/34.Consevation+of+the+Basket.+Photo-Yaniv+Berman+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![40.Bar Kochva Hoard. Photo-Dafna Gazit Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899878481-55KQT07ODXZW0IUXG3FW/40.Bar+Kochva+Hoard.+Photo-Dafna+Gazit+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![41.Qumran broken Jars and Arrowehads were found. Photo Dafna Gazit Israel Antiquities Authority ( (5).jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899867388-GDS2FTC2SWLAG2A4LI20/41.Qumran+broken+Jars+and+Arrowehads+were+found.+Photo+Dafna+Gazit+Israel+Antiquities+Authority+%28+%285%29.jpg)
![42.A Sandal- Photo-Clara Amit Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899873284-D568VS515A7HY99UYI2Q/42.A+Sandal-+Photo-Clara+Amit+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![43.lice comb-Clara Amit Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899877859-JXRJJZIPUA6F7FNXS85P/43.lice+comb-Clara+Amit+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![44.Arrowheads found in the desert. Photo Dafna Gazit Israel Antiquities Authority (.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899884635-Q2V5SXIBMPZ0FTG8U98X/44.Arrowheads+found+in+the+desert.+Photo+Dafna+Gazit+Israel+Antiquities+Authority+%28.jpg)
![45.Photo by Clara Amit Israel Antiquities Authority1.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899883983-O5XPEPOIVZ743SKXE19A/45.Photo+by+Clara+Amit+Israel+Antiquities+Authority1.jpg)
![47.The excavation was conducted under challenging conditions. Photo Yaniv Berman Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899893141-FS6V1DQYLEV9BAKSEKRC/47.The+excavation+was+conducted+under+challenging+conditions.+Photo+Yaniv+Berman+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
![49.The oldest complete basket in the world found at Muraba'at Cave. Photo-Dafna Gazit Israel Antiquities Authority.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad3a2183c3a532b3b93a2a5/1615899889113-19GOH5VYMN0EW9L42XGK/49.The+oldest+complete+basket+in+the+world+found+at+Muraba%27at+Cave.+Photo-Dafna+Gazit+Israel+Antiquities+Authority.jpg)
All images courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority