Civil administration seizes looted Crusader and Byzantine artifacts in Judea and Samaria

New construction sat in the center of the ancient complex and disturbed layers of material that have long helped researchers document the region’s past.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israeli authorities carried out a coordinated operation on Thursday to recover archaeological artifacts from the Burj Lasana hilltop site in Area B, in Judea and Samaria, acting after a recently built structure caused fresh damage to remains spanning multiple historical eras.

The Civil Administration’s Archaeology Unit directed the activity, which was executed on the ground by the IDF’s Surveillance Unit and enforcement teams.

Officials said the new construction sat in the center of the ancient complex and disturbed layers of material that have long helped researchers document the region’s past.

During the raid, forces seized rare items believed to have been taken from the nearby Crusader fortress, including coins, carved stones, capitals and column fragments from the Byzantine period.

Inspectors also confiscated a metal detector that they say was being used to loot the site.

The recovered pieces were later taken to the Good Samaritan archaeological museum for study and exhibition.

The head of the Civil Administration’s Enforcement, Investigations and Intelligence Department said the work reflects a broader mission to safeguard historical material.

“Preserving the antiquities sites is a central part of our work and the responsibility to preserve the history of the region. Any damage to an ancient site not only harms the find itself but also the ability to understand and document the historical story that the site reflects. We will continue to work tirelessly and with all the tools at our disposal to eradicate the destructive phenomenon of antiquities theft and protect the national heritage assets and the history of the region,” he said.

Burj Lasana rises above Wadi Haramiyya and is regarded as one of the most important archaeological locations in the area.

Excavations over the years have revealed evidence of settlement from the Iron Age through the Middle Ages, including remnants of a Crusader fortification, a Byzantine church, burial caves, agricultural installations from the early Roman era and a ritual bath.

The Civil Administration said Thursday’s operation is part of a continuing campaign to confront organized antiquities theft and to identify those responsible for damaging the site.