Al Quds University Archaeology Program

In 1999 The Jerusalem Fund Board of Directors acquired the Ben-Ari library collection of archeological resource materials and donated it to the archeological department of Al-Quds University in Jerusalem.

This important collection, which was owned by a private individual, contained several hundred rare volumes including geographical and historical studies, and field reports published in the 19th century. This acquisition considerably enhanced the bibliographic resources of this fledgling department at an important Palestinian university.

Hani Nur al-Din, the director of the Al-Quds Archaeology Department, said that these older reference books, along with contemporary publications, would form the nucleus of the department’s library.

Mohammed Manasara, a student in the department added that due to Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank a large percentage of archaeology sites were off limits to Palestinians. Furthermore, the inability of students to travel to Jerusalem where the majority of academic resources are housed was also a significant obstacle confronting scholars who study archaeology in Palestine. The Al Quds library supported by The Jerusalem Fund has helped to alleviate some of these problems. “We use the [library’s] books continuously,” said Manasara.