> Subject: Fwd: Gesher Benot Ya'aqov destruction
>
>
> >Sorry for cross-posting
> >-----------------------
> >
> >Dear Colleagues,
> >Please respond to the request expressed in this letter. If you could
> >forward tthis letter to notify as many poeple as possible it will be
> >very much appreciated.
> >Many thanks,
> >Naama
> >
> >
> >Dear Colleagues,
> >
> >Recently an archaeological site of the utmost importance for the study
> >of early humankind has been irreversibly damaged, deliberately and
> >willfully, under the guise of environmental development. After
> >agreements to the contrary, and notwithstanding a restraining order
> >issued by the courts, Mr. Eytan Sat, General Director of the Kinneret
> >(Sea of Galilee) Drainage Authority, gave orders for work to be done at
> >the outlet of the River Jordan from the Huleh Valley. This was carried
> >out with the purposeful intent to deceive and avoid the inspectors of
> >the Israel Antiquities Authority.
> >
> >Gesher Benot Ya'aqov (named after an old bridge called "the daughters of
> >the Patriarch Jacob") is an important antiquities site, dating to the
> >Lower Paleolithic, ca 780,000 BP, and is the second oldest evidence for
> >human activity outside of Africa in this country. Early excavations
> >conducted during the 19301s and 19601 already indicated the importance
> >of the site. More recently the site has been excavated by Prof. Na'ama
> >Goren-Inbar of the Hebrew University. The archaeological remains have
> >proved to be crucial in understanding the movements of hominids out of
> >Africa into Eurasia, whilethe superb preservation of animal and plant
> >remains is unique for the period under consideration, contributing  to
> >our understanding of ancientenvironments and the behaviors of our
> >ancestors. Amongst other remains recovered are some of the earliest
> >documented worked wooden implements known.
> >
> >As anthropologists, archeologists, botanists, geologists, and
> >paleontologists, intimately involved in Pleistocene research, we
> >strongly protest this contravention of Israel's antiquities law and the
> >willful destruction of some of the earliest remains of human culture in
> >this part of the world. We wish to object to this gross and flagrant
> >violation to our world cultural heritage.
> >
> >In light of the irreparable damage that has been incurred to the site
> >please register your disapproval concerning this matter to:
> >
> >Mr. Matan Vilnai,
> >Minister of Culture, Science and Sport,
> >Kiriat Hamemshala (East),
> >Building C,
> >POB 49100,
> >Jerusalem 91490,
> >Israel.
> >
> >Fax: 972-2-5811613
> >
> >Prof. Naama Goren-Inbar (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
> >Prof. Baruch Arensburg (Tel Aviv University)
> >Prof. Anna Belfer-Cohen (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
> >Dr. Shmuel Belitzky (Hebrew University)
> >Prof. Avi Gopher (Tel Aviv University)
> >Dr. Yuval Goren (Tel Aviv University)
> >Dr. Nigel Goring-Morris (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
> >Prof. Isaac Gilead (Ben Gurion University, Beersheva)
> >Dr. Ariel Heimann (Geological Survey of Israel)
> >Prof. Israel Hershkovitz (Tel Aviv University)
> >Dr. Erella Hovers (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
> >Dr. Daniel Kaufman (Haifa University)
> >Prof. Mordechai Kislev (Bar Ilan University)
> >Dr. Daniel Nadel (Haifa University)
> >Dr. Rivka Rabinovitz  (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
> >Prof. Yoel Rak (Tel Aviv University)
> >Prof. Patricia Smith (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
> >Prof. Eitan Tchernov, (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
> >Prof. Steve Weiner (Weizman Institute of Science, Rehovot)
> >Prof. Mina Weinstein-Evron (Haifa University)
> >Dr. Ella Werker (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)
> >
> >
> >
>


geoff carver
http://home.t-online.de/home/gcarver/
[log in to unmask]