Who owns the past? Archaeological sites and the question of land ownership in Palestine

This study examines the complex tensions between land commodification and archaeological preservation in Palestine by analysing the Palestinian National Spatial Plan (PNSP). Using a mixed-methods approach combining GIS analysis, ethnographic interviews, and case study research of Tell at-Tall archaeological site in Deir Dibwan, I investigate how the Palestinian Authority (PA) navigates competing demands between protecting cultural heritage and accommodating development pressures within Areas A and B under the Oslo Accords. The research reveals significant implementation challenges due to limited territorial jurisdiction, rising land values creating development pressure, technical limitations of current spatial planning tools, and competing interests between state agencies and private landowners. Through a detailed examination of the Tell at-Tall archaeological park project, the article demonstrates how these tensions manifest in practice and identify key barriers to effective heritage protection, including fragmented governance between multiple agencies, inadequate mechanisms for compensating private landowners, and limitations of two-dimensional GIS mapping for complex archaeological sites. The findings highlight the need for improved coordination between planning authorities and more robust frameworks for balancing preservation with development rights in the context of restricted territorial control and increasing land commodification.