by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel has opened the vaults of its past to the world, unveiling a sweeping online archive of archaeological treasures that spans millennia of history.
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Tuesday the launch of the Israel National Archaeological Database, a free digital platform offering access to more than 3.9 million records, nearly one million artifacts, 1.2 million images, and over 15,000 3D models of excavations and finds across the land.
“This project gives us, for the first time, a true bird’s-eye view of the entire discipline,” said Dr. Débora Sandhaus, the IAA’s Chief Scientist. “Israel is the most excavated country in the world, and this immense trove of data will now be readily accessible to researchers both here and abroad.”
The initiative integrates every stage of archaeology — from excavation planning to final publication — making it one of the largest online repositories of its kind. Users can explore an interactive map of Israel, view selected 3D models, and search by site, artifact, historical period, or researcher.
“Until now, those who were looking for this kind of information would need to sit in our archives for months,” Sandhaus explained. “Now they can just look for, let’s say, Byzantine churches, and find thousands of entries. It will help advance research immensely.”
The database highlights sites central to biblical and historical studies, including Tel Lachish, the Crusader-era Nimrod Fortress, and the Nabatean city of Avdat in the Negev.
Alby Malka, head of the IAA’s Technologies Division, noted the project’s educational potential. “Teachers could really benefit from using the database, especially the 3D models, with their students — alongside scholars and people passionate about archaeology.”
Both Malka and Sandhaus emphasized that the platform is still growing. “This is only the beginning,” Malka said. “We’re going to add a lot more data, 3D models, and more. It was important for us to launch now to give people a taste of what will come.”
The online portal is available worldwide, offering unprecedented access to Israel’s unburied treasures — a digital bridge to one of history’s richest landscapes.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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