Palestinian director of cultural heritage casts doubt on Israeli discovery
at Herodion
Date: 09 / 05 / 2007 Time: 16:20
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=21913

Bethlehem - Ma'an - Palestinian director of cultural heritage in the
ministry of tourism and antiquities cast doubt, on Wednesday, on the
validity of the Israeli discovery of Herod's tomb at Herodion, southeast of
Bethlehem.

He said "the proof is very weak and the discovery cannot be confirmed based
on the remnants of a destroyed container, in the absence of written
material."

The director added "this discovery seems to be a normal discovery in the
Roman archaeological layers."

'Ideological motives'

He says "The explanations accompanying the discovery, and the announcement
of the discovery in that impressive way, imply ideological motives, which
lack scientific credibility."

The director warned of political motivations for the claim, saying "it is
part of an Israeli settlement campaign in Bethlehem, which includes claiming
the archaeological sites and material within them."

He said "these archaeological areas are an inseparable part of the
Palestinian cultural heritage, which can not be divided or transferred.
Whether it is Herod or otherwise, it is part of the Palestinian history and
culture."