Over the past several days, Staff Officer for Archeology (SOA) inspectors within Israel’s Civil Administration carried out enforcement operations in the Tel Aroma archaeological site in Samaria, located in Area B, which is under Palestinian civilian control. This was a relatively rare operation since, up until several months ago, the Civil Administration refrained from enforcing violations regarding archaeological sites not located in Area C, which is in full Israeli control.
“Tel Aroma” is a biblical site mentioned in the Book of Judges and a Hasmonean fortress city. It overlooks the Itamar Ridge, and has suffered extensive destruction at the hands of vandals and thieves. Among other incidents, it was discovered that a Hasmonean fortification wall with a unique Herodian addition of decorated stones had been stolen.
