Guidelines to Applicants requesting information from the Israel Antiquities Authority DataBank


Information for archive users

The Scientific Archive of the Israel Antiquities Authority is undergoing digitization process. The project started in July 2020 and will last at least 18 months. During this time, the access to the archival materials (excavation files, maps, and plans) will be very limited.

During the current stage of the project (until the end of 2020) excavation files of the years 1948 – 1990 will be accessible only after scanning.

We are kindly asking you for your understanding and patience if a respond to your request to consult this material takes longer than usual.



The 'Freedom of Information Act' – was published on 29th May 1998 (Published Registry of Laws 1667, page 226 ff).
Freedom of Information regulations (fees) were published January 28, 2014 (Corpus of Regulations 7334, pages 573-574).

They are as follows:

  1. Request for information fee is NIS 20.00 (New Israel Shekels).
  2. Fee for locating, sorting and handling the requested information (henceforth, 'handling fee'): NIS 30.00 for each additional work hour beginning from the third hour, not to exceed NIS 150.00. If the handling fee exceeds NIS 150.00, a prior agreement will be requested from the applicant before continuing with work.
    1. Fee for provision of hard copy (paper documentation):
      NIS 0.20 for each photocopied page or computer printout
      NIS 2.50 per disk
      NIS 5.00 for scanning service for each document in black and white
      NIS 20.00 for scanning service for each document in color
      NIS 20.00 for electronic copying onto each CD
      Cost for scans of quality suitable for publication to be determined on an individual base.
    2. For recorded, filmed or photographed information, the applicant will pay the cost of production or of copying the material.
  3. Applicant will pay any necessary postal charges incurred in transfer of the materials.
  4. Information services are provided by the following IAA offices:
    1. Central Archives:
    2. Archives of Survey Branch, Department of Excavation and Surveys:
      racheli@israntique.org.il
      5 HaMarpe St., Har Hotzvim, Jerusalem; Mailing address: P. O. Box 586, 91004 Jerusalem
      Tel. 972-73-3507352.
    3. Israel State Collections of Antiquities (Administered by the IAA): Information and material related to excavated artifacts and the state collection, excluding numismatic artifacts (see below D).
      miki@israntique.org.il
    4. Beth Shemesh Storage and Research Facility, Beth Shemesh Industrial Zone West; Mailing address: P. O. Box 586, 91004 Jerusalem
      Tel. 972-73-3507352.
    5. Dep. of Numismatics:
      donald@israntique.org.il
      Offices of the IAA on the Israel Museum Campus, Giv`at Ram, Jerusalem (Adjacent to the Youth Wing); Mailing address: P. O. Box 586, 91004 Jerusalem
      Tel. 972-73-3507605.
    6. Photographic Archives, Department for the Care and Treatment of Artifacts: Information and reproduction of photos from IAA Archives.
      barschak@israntique.org.il)
      5 HaMarpe St., Har Hotzvim, Jerusalem; Mailing address: P. O. Box 586, 91004 Jerusalem
      Tel. 972-73-3507605.
    7. Regional Offices: Information on antiquities sites in each region.
      1. Jerusalem Region
        P. O. Box 586, 91004 Jerusalem
        Tel. 972-73-3507200.
      2. Central Region
        12 Levanda St., 66029 Tel Aviv
        Tel. 972-73-3507400.
      3. Northern Region
        P. O. Box 35, 10600 Nahalal
        Tel. 972-73-3507500.
      4. Southern Region
        P. O. Box 271, 84965 Omer
        Tel. 972-73-3507800.
  5. Upon granting permission to examine IAA material an applicant will first be informed of the amount of handling fees in NIS. The applicant will then need to sign a form requesting the desired information and guarantees to pay the required fees, according to the regulations. Receipt of material is conditional upon payment to the IAA.

In order to download the guidelines, please click here