Archaeology as a Weapon: Long-lasting legacies of colonialism and nationalism in Israel, Palestine, Cyprus and Greece

“Archaeology as a Weapon” is a compelling critique of the intersection between archaeology, politics, and cultural identity. Exploring the lasting effects of colonialism and nationalism in Israel, Palestine, Greece, and Cyprus, the book reveals how historical and archaeological narratives are shaped, manipulated, and sometimes weaponized. […] the overall text, with meticulous research and a sharp analytical approach, challenges conventional perspectives and calls for a more ethical and decolonized approach to the study of the past.

Assoc. Prof. Hazar Kaba

Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Science and Letters

Sinop University, Turkey

Book review on "Archaeology as a Weapon"

Impact:

Marie-Louise Winbladh’s “Archaeology as a Weapon” is a landmark contribution to critical heritage studies. It dismantles the assumption that archaeology is a neutral science, revealing how it has been instrumentalized to legitimize nationalist ideologies, colonial expansion, and territorial claims.

The book’s impact resonates across multiple disciplines - archaeology, history, archaeogenetics, political science and museum studies - and it makes a significant contribution to debates on cultural heritage protection, particularly in conflict zones.

Winbladh’s documentation of looting, destruction, and ideological manipulation of archaeological sites in Israel/Palestine, Cyprus, and Greece is highly relevant to international legal frameworks and heritage ethics. Her call for a decolonized archaeology is both legitimate and urgent.

Review:

“Archaeology as a Weapon” is structured into four regional chapters and is thoroughly illustrated and supported by hundreds of references. The author combines field experience with critical analyses, offering a compelling narrative that is both scholarly and accessible.

Winbladh’s central idea - that archaeology has been weaponized - is supported by many case studies, genetic research and institutional critique. The book is a valuable reference for those who are interested in cultural heritage, as well as students, scholars and politicians.

Archaeology and Power:

Winbladh situates archaeology within a global framework of colonialism and nationalism. Drawing on scholars such as Yannis Hamilakis, Rafi Greenberg, Israel Finkelstein, Susan Pollock, and Neil Asher Silberman, she explores how archaeology has been - and continues to be - used to construct national myths and suppress alternative histories.

The book also exposes the misuse of archaeogenetics to support racial purity narratives, while highlighting shared ancestry among groups such as Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs, Cypriots and Greeks.

Museums and heritage institutions are also examined for their role in perpetuating biased narratives and displaying looted artefacts.

Israel and Palestine:

Chapter One critiques biblical archaeology’s role in legitimizing Zionist claims. Winbladh documents how settler organizations and evangelical Christian groups fund excavations in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, often violating international law and excluding Palestinian archaeologists. The excavation in Silwan, East Jerusalem, is presented as a case study in nationalist archaeology, where Zionist organizations such as Elad attempt to manipulate evidence to proclaim the discovery of “the City of David.”

Many excavations in Israel are promoted with the explicit aim of reinforcing a Jewish historical narrative. Several prominent Israeli scholars have criticized this nationalist archaeology, arguing that biblical narratives lack historical evidence. These critiques have been known for decades but remain largely ignored by the Israeli public and political establishment.

The author also addresses looting and highlights the role of the U.S. art dealer Hobby Lobby in supporting Zionism and smuggling artefacts from Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine - a scandal that underscores the ideological dimensions of the antiquities trade.

Chapter Two turns to Palestinian archaeology, noting efforts by some intellectuals to establish a direct link to the Canaanites as evidence of pre-Israelite presence - a narrative that does not fully reflect the complex realities on the ground.

The chapter concludes by emphasizing DNA analyses that reveal a shared origin among Israelis and Palestinians - Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.

Cyprus:

Chapter Three examines how archaeology in Cyprus has been used to assert Greek identity while marginalizing Turkish Cypriot heritage. Winbladh critiques the legacies of British colonialism and the Turkish invasion, as well as the politicization of museum narratives. She documents also the looting of over 60,000 artefacts from Northern Cyprus since 1974, to finance rebel groups.

Greece:

Chapter Four explores how Classical archaeology in Greece has been appropriated by far-right movements such as Golden Dawn. Winbladh analyses rituals at Thermopylae, the glorification of Spartan militarism against the Persians in 480 BCE, and the use of ancient symbols to promote racial purity.

Museums are criticized for ignoring Ottoman and Albanian contributions to Greek history, reinforcing narratives of Christian Greek superiority. The misuse of archaeogenetics is exposed as a tool for nationalist propaganda.

Ethical Imperatives:

In her conclusion, Winbladh identifies recurring patterns across these regions: archaeology is used to assert national legitimacy, erase alternative identities, and suppress opposition. She calls for a decolonized archaeology - one that acknowledges shared histories, promotes ethical standards, and includes marginalized voices.

The book commends initiatives such as Emek Shaveh (based in Jerusalem) and Forensic Architecture (based in London), for promoting inclusive heritage and documenting destruction, while condemning the global antiquities trade and provenance fraud.

Conclusion:

“Archaeology as a Weapon” is courageous and intellectually rigorous work that confronts the discipline’s political entanglements. It is essential reading for students, scholars, and policymakers engaged in cultural heritage in conflict zones.

Winbladh’s scholarship is meticulous, her critique fearless, and her message unequivocal: archaeology must serve truth, not power.

Ghattas J. Sayej

Agder County Council, Norway