The Civil Administration opened today (Thursday) a procedure for the temporary expropriation of some 1,800,000 square meters around the archaeological site of Sebastia in Samaria, in a move intended to allow the expansion of excavations, the restoration of archeological finds and the construction of new infrastructure as part of a wide-ranging project to preserve the heritage of Judea and Samaria.
The expropriation is taking place in areas located in Area C, after the Administration determined that the landowners and the Palestinian authorities had neglected the site and even allowed damage to the antiquities there. Official notices were delivered to the landowners, and the area will be transferred to the management of the local Archaeology Unit, in accordance with the law.
The move is part of a preservation and development project led by the Heritage Ministry, with an investment of approximately NIS 32 million, aimed at upgrading access to the site, expanding excavations and restoring historical finds.
The Sebastia site is among the most important in Judea and Samaria: it was the capital of the Kingdom of Israel in the days of Omri and Ahab, and contains a royal palace from the early Israelite period, rare Hebrew inscriptions and impressive remains from the Roman period – a theater, a colonnaded street and the Temple of Augustus. The many settlement layers at the site attract researchers and visitors from around the world.
The Archaeology Unit is currently conducting, for the first time in a decade, in-depth work on site, including the exposure of new sections of the Hellenistic-Roman colonnaded street, the restoration of the ancient stone pavements and a basic mapping of the column bases adjacent to the city gate.
The Civil Administration’s archaeology officer, Binyamin Har-Even, said, “Sebastia is one of the most important archaeological sites in Judea and Samaria. The expropriation will allow us to protect the remains, repair the damage and make the site accessible to future generations. We will continue to act for the preservation of national heritage assets.”