Brown University will host an historic conference titled “The Jerusalem Perspective: 150 Years of Archaeological Research” Nov. 12-14, 2006. Organized by Katharina Galor, the event will be the first time Israeli and Palestinian scholars have come together in an academic exchange and discussion of their archaeological research. All sessions are free and open to the public.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Brown University will host an unprecedented conference next month, when archaeologist Katharina Galor and nearly 40 international colleagues gather to discuss Jerusalem’s archaeological and cultural heritage.  The event, titled “The Jerusalem Perspective: 150 Years of archaeological Research,” will be held from Sunday, Nov. 12, through Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006. All events are free and open to the public. The conference is historic in that it will be first time Palestinian and Israeli scholars have come together in an academic exchange and discussion of their archaeological research.

A long urban history
Ancient home and holy site for Jews, Muslims and Christians, Jerusalem is a unique research subject for a broad range of scholars. The view is of Temple Mount from the south.
Image: Israel Antiquities Authority

“Ironically, this kind of meeting could not have taken place in Jerusalem,” Galor said. “The political conflicts do not foster much exchange between the two scholarly communities. This is particularly felt in a field where national and religious issues can play a major role. It’s important to bring these scholars to neutral ground here at Brown.”

Participants include Sari Nusseibeh, president of Al-Quds University; Lee I. Levine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Frank E. Peters, New York University; and Israel Finkelstein, Tel Aviv University.

“Jerusalem’s sanctity to Jews, Christians and Muslims has made the city a focus of discussions and controversies regarding their evolving and changing identities throughout its long urban history,” Galor said. “The purpose of the conference is to bring together leading experts in the fields of archaeology, history, art history, philosophy, theology and geography so as to summarize and evaluate their current state of research as it relates to this fascinating urban and religious center.”

The principal sponsors of “The Jerusalem Perspective” are Brown University’s Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World, Cogut Center for the Humanities, Watson Institute for International Studies, and Program in Judaic Studies.

A full schedule of events and locations is available online at http://www.brown.edu/Jerusalem.

News organizations interested in covering this event should contact Deborah Baum in the Office of Media Relations at (401) 863-2478 or [email protected].

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