Hasmonean site in Modiin slated for preservation

You can see a sketch of the proposed project below.

http://modiinfo.com

 The Heritage and Preservation Committee approved new 13 sites last week, at a cost of 72.5 million shekels. The approved sites include archeological preservation, heritage sites, museums, archives, and cultural initiatives. One of the sites included was Um Al-Umdan, in Modiin. This site shows a full snapshot of life in a Jewish town at the time of the Hasmoneans.

The site is in the Moriah/Buchman neighborhood, near Menachem Begin street.The site shows Jewish residence in the area from the Persian period through the early Arab period. Most of the artifacts found are from a Jewish town in the 2nd century BCE, which stayed active until the Roman period, up until the Bar Cochba revolt in the first half of the 2nd century BCE.

The site has ancient a grid of streets and alleys, and an ancient synagogue, the likes of which there are only a few in Israel. The city of Modiin has been working to have this site recognized as a national preservation site.

There will be three stages in the process. The first step is putting in an access pathway to the site, preservation of the site, replicating the original synagogue walls, and adding signage.

The second stage includes preservation of areas carved into stone in the "residential" part of the site, and installing electricity and lighting. The third stage will be building a visitors center which will serve those coming to learn about the Hasmonean period, including students and families.

Haim Bibas commented, "The National Heritage Program is a wonderful program, which helps archeology and heritage in Israel in unprecedented ways. This is the history of the state of Israel, and the entrance of Um Al-Umdan is important news for Modiin Maccabim-Reut. The standing which is given to the site, and the resources which will be invested in it, will help it become one of the central heritage sites in Israel."

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