Overview

The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel is the purpose-built headquarters of the Israel Antiquities Authority, located in central Jerusalem near major cultural institutions. It is intended as a combined center for research, conservation, storage and public display of archaeological collections. The site is sited between the Israel Museum and the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. Coordinates for the campus area are commonly published; see the campus location and map for precise placement.

Design and facilities

The building was designed by the internationally known architect Moshe Safdie, whose plans emphasize light, circulation and careful environmental control for sensitive artifacts. The complex combines public exhibition spaces with secure repository areas and laboratory wings. Key features described in planning and publicity materials include:

  • Climatized conservation and restoration laboratories intended for long-term preservation of organic and inorganic finds.
  • Specialized storage vaults with controlled humidity and security for manuscript collections and fragile objects.
  • Public galleries and educational facilities to display rotating exhibitions and to support research visits by scholars and students.
  • Workspaces for archaeologists, conservators and curators, alongside study rooms for visiting researchers.

Collections and purpose

One of the campus aims is to serve as an international center for the study of Israel’s archaeological heritage. The project has been promoted as a home for the Dead Sea Scrolls research and conservation efforts, intended to enable better display, analysis and preservation of scroll fragments and related manuscripts. Rather than a single static museum, the campus is planned as an integrated hub combining conservation science, scholarship and public outreach around the nation’s collections, including ancient inscriptions, ceramics, coins and architectural fragments.

History and development

The ceremonial cornerstone for the Schottenstein campus was laid in October 2006, marking the start of a multi-stage building program. Early public statements set an anticipated opening date in the early 2010s, but like many large cultural infrastructure projects the schedule was subject to revisions and delays while construction, outfitting and installation of specialized systems proceeded. During planning and construction the project drew attention for its ambition to centralize scientific conservation and archaeological archives in one modern facility.

Significance and visiting

The campus represents an effort to modernize how a national archaeology authority cares for and interprets its collections. It is intended to support long-term conservation, to expand research capacity and to present artifacts in contexts that communicate their scientific and cultural importance to the public. The facility sits in a cultural cluster that includes neighboring museums and research institutions, strengthening opportunities for collaboration and for public visitors to explore multiple institutions in one visit.

The institution is known in Hebrew as הקריה הלאומית לארכיאולוגיה של ארץ ישראל and is frequently mentioned in connection with the Dead Sea Scrolls—an internationally significant corpus of ancient Jewish manuscripts and fragments whose conservation and study are a priority for the campus (Dead Sea Scrolls). The campus location and design continue to be cited in discussions of how national collections can balance public access, scholarship and the strict preservation needs of ancient materials.

Note: For official visitor information, opening hours and current exhibitions consult the Israel Antiquities Authority or the campus’ public communications channels.