Frequently Asked Questions

What does Yesod mean?

Yesod is the Hebrew word for Foundation.

What is archaeology?

Archaeology is the study of past societies through their material remains. Material traces from archaeological excavations have proven to provide new insights into the history of ancient cultures that were unknown or only incompletely known from written records. It is carried out through the use of systematic excavations, in which finds and the levels in which they are discovered are carefully recorded. The analysis of objects such as pottery, glass and metal is combined with the study of food remains and other organic materials to reconstruct the daily life of the ancient community and to trace its evolution through time.

What can archaeology teach us about Jewish history?

Our main sources for understanding Jewish history in Europe are written records, both Jewish and non-Jewish, as well as countless individual artifacts. What is so far lacking are extensive excavations in every region of Europe that can answer some of the most important questions of economic connections, migrations, and community history.

Traditional historiography and scattered references in early medieval texts suggest that Jewish communities existed in France, the Low Countries and in the Rhine and Danube valleys - only to push eastward to Eastern Europe in the wake of the crusades. But even this basic scheme is now under question. Only in the eleventh century does there appear a significant corpus of Hebrew inscriptions and dated tombstones, particularly in the Rhine valley. What happened to the Jews of Western Europe from the fourth to the eleventh centuries? And why did they appear in the archaeological record so suddenly?

Therefore, intensive surveys and continued archaeological excavations are necessary to provide clues to these questions in the following ways:

Why should we care about Europe's Jewish archaeological heritage?

In its Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, the Council of Europe has agreed to promote an understanding of the common heritage of Europe, which consists of all forms of cultural heritage in Europe which together constitute a shared source of remembrance, understanding, identity, cohesion and creativity. It therefore follows that the archaeological heritage of minority groups must be accorded the same significance as the heritage of mainstream societies since religious difference and cultural diversity have been recognized as basic, long term constituents of the European heritage.

However, Europe's Jewish archaeological heritage today lies mostly hidden undiscovered, or in storage vaults without having received proper in depth study or public exposure. More ominously, important buried remains of Jewish communities are being every year destroyed through fast-paced urban development. In the cases that these remains are uncovered by government antiquities services, they are often not recognized as Jewish, due to the lack of awareness and experience in identifying Jewish remains and material culture.

It is in response to these pressing needs that Project Yesod seeks to encourage study, help to initiate systematic excavations, and to establish guidelines for the study, protection and management of Europe's Jewish archaeological heritage.

How can an ancient Jewish settlement or other Jewish archaeological remains be identified?

The identity of ancient population groups remains a thorny issue in archaeology as in contrast to textual sources material residues do not carry name tags. However, there are certain markers that help to identify an ancient population group. In regard to a former place of Jewish settlement the most obvious characteristics consist of synagogues, Jewish cemeteries and mikva'oth (ritual baths).

Historical sources and archives can in many instances identify the location of Jewish settlements and Jewish quarters within cities. These can be plotted on modern topographical maps to inidcate the likely location of Jewish remains.

Other finds ranging from everyday objects such as ceramics and floor tiles to ritual items to luxury items such as jewellery and gold coins can carry "Jewish" markers such as the Star of David, Hebrew inscriptions, or biblical symbols.

Yet the most important finds of Jewish life in the Middle Ages will only be recognized with further excavation. Distinctive pottery forms produced by Jewish artisans, unique patterns of kitchen refuse and discarded animal bones (revealing observance of special dietary customs), and the special arrangement of rooms within houses and houses within a settlement may provide evidence of patterns of Jewish life that have not been recognized before.

What role can archaeology play in the documentation of medieval Jewish cemeteries?

While the religious sensitivities connected with the excavation of human remains must be respected, ancient Jewish places of burial can offer important information on the demography, life-expectancy, and cultural connections of their communities.

Medieval Jewish cemeteries were generally located outside town walls, and were often enclosed by walls and ditches. Thus the mapping and documentation of the cemeteries can contribute to a better understanding of the physical evolution of many European towns and cities and the geographical situation of Jewish communities within them. The inscriptions on gravestones, the alignment of graves, and the date of abandonment of a particular cemetery may offer additional important information on the community's history.

What can be done to help study and preserve Europe's Jewish archaeological heritage?

On the academic level: Scholarly contacts should be encouraged between Judaic scholars and archaeologists, offering a better understanding for both the potential benefits of both disciplines in better understanding the history of Jewish life in Europe.

On the community level: Contemporary Jewish communities in Europe and the populations of places where Jewish populations no longer exist must be encouraged to recognize the presence and importance of Jewish archaeological remains in their localities as an element of shared inheritance-and as the platform for educational and cultural activities.

On the policy level: Government ministries of culture and antiquities services must be encouraged to protect the physical state and unique character of Jewish archaeological remains as part of a common national heritage, neither ignoring them nor homogenizing them into a mainstream national history.

To achieve these goals, Project Yesod seeks to: