Archaeology By the Book, But Which Book?: Archaeology and Nation Building in Germany and Israel

Archaeology is a powerful tool wielded by nations to tell their own stories. How can two countries in different situations harness archaeology to tell their own national narratives? Through investigation of the archaeological heritage of Israel and Germany, both by their individual archaeologists as well as institutions such as museums, I have discovered the different ways in which nation states can utilize archaeology to their advantage. By choosing to excavate well-known sites, only display certain artifacts, or claim modernity through the science of the discipline, each nation strengthens their national identity via archaeology and related artifacts. Individual archaeologists have more wide-ranging approaches to the use of archaeology in nation building, whereas institutions seem to draw a firmer line between archaeology and the nations in which they are located.