Abstract

Archaeology holds a special place in Israeli culture. Because of pioneers returning from exile to rebuild the Land of Israel in the early 1900s, archaeological findings were used to build national myths and ground a collective identity for the new immigrants returning after 2,000 years of diaspora. In addition to numerous archaeological parks, there is a remarkable abundance of archaeological museums in Israel, with a non-proportional number of these located on kibbutzim. This article will focus on a few kibbutz museums that are noted for their exemplary modern architecture executed by prominent Israeli architects. The uncompromising modernist style of these buildings, conjoined with the exhibited ancient artifacts, form a unique experience that reflects the ideology of the kibbutz pioneers: building a modern society rooted in the archaic past.