Following the October 7, 2023, brutal terrorist attack on the Western Negev, teams from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) mobilised to assist in locating and identifying missing persons, documenting sites of destruction, and commemorating the disaster in the Gaza envelope. Archaeologists and anthropologists applied their expertise to scan, collect, and sift through ashes at the burned sites, leading to the confirmed identification of seventeen previously missing victims. The IAA also used advanced documentation technologies to capture the scale of destruction and launched educational programs to support and uplift displaced communities.
The Project
The Challenge
Translating a painful, complex, and emotionally charged reality into a unique, responsible, and respectful exhibition that integrates professional documentation, a human narrative, and educational value. The goal was to create a clear, accessible, and meaningful exhibition experience for diverse audiences from Israel and around the world, while maintaining dignity and sensitivity toward the victims and affected communities.
The Experience
The exhibition presents the painful story of October 7 through the eyes of the archaeologists of the Israel Antiquities Authority, highlighting their unique work at the sites of destruction in the Gaza border region. From the use of professional tools to locate evidence, findings, and personal belongings, to their contribution to the identification of missing persons, the exhibition documents their efforts in detail. It features advanced 3D documentation of the destruction sites alongside innovative visual and technological installations, including an interactive wall displaying photographs of recovered items revealed through visitor movement, displays of the original tools used in the field, and screens allowing in-depth exploration of 3D models of the sites.
The exhibition was designed to showcase the unique role of the Israel Antiquities Authority and serves as testimony to pain and loss, while also expressing responsibility, mutual solidarity, and the resilience of Israeli society to rise from the ashes and choose life.