WHC Nomination Documentation

File Name: 1040.pdf UNESCO Region: EUROPE AND THE NORTH AMERICA
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SITE NAME: Masada

DATE OF INSCRIPTION: 16th December 2001

STATE PARTY: ISRAEL

CRITERIA: C (iii)(iv)(vi)

DECISION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE:

Excerpt from the Report of the 25th Session of the World Heritage Committee
The Committee inscribed the Masada National Park on the World Heritage List under criteria (iii), (iv), and (vi):

Criterion (iii): Masada is a symbol of the ancient Jewish Kingdom of Israel, of its violent
destruction in the later 1st century CE, and of the subsequent Diaspora.

Criterion (iv): The Palace of Herod the Great at Masada is an outstanding example of a
luxurious villa of the Early Roman Empire, whilst the camps and other fortifications that
encircle the monument constitute the finest and most complete Roman siege works to
have survived to the present day.

Criterion (vi): The tragic events during the last days of the Jewish refugees who
occupied the fortress and palace of Masada make it a symbol both of Jewish cultural
identity and, more universally, of the continuing human struggle between oppression and
liberty.
Although the site was originally nominated as a mixed property, the Committee did not inscribe Masada
National Park under natural criteria.
The Chairperson congratulated Israel on the inscription of its first site on the World Heritage List. In
agreement with the State Party, the name of the property was changed to Masada.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS
Masada is a rugged natural fortress, of majestic beauty, in the Judaean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. It is a symbol
of the ancient kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction and the last stand of Jewish patriots in the face of the Roman
army, in 73 A.D. It was built as a palace complex, in the classic style of the early Roman Empire, by Herod the Great,
King of Judaea, (reigned 37 – 4 B.C.). The camps, fortifications and attack ramp that encircle the monument constitute
the most complete Roman siege works surviving to the present day.

1.b State, Province or Region: Tamar Region

1.d Exact location: 32° 55' N, 35° 4' E

Israel National Con&on
for UNESCO State of Israel

MASADA
PROPOSED WORLD I-ERlTAGf SlTE
by the state of IsrAe

September 2000
1. MASADA - IDENTIFICATION

1 .a. Country

The State of Israel.

I .b. Region

Between Dead Sea rift valley and the eastern side of the Judean Desert.

l.c. Name of Property

Masada National Park

1 .d. Exact Location

Enclosed hereby a map with the requested data.

I.e. Buffer Zone

Enclosed hereby a map with the requested data.

1.f. Area of Site and Buffer Zone

Area of site - 276 ha.

Area of buffer - 28965 ha.
2. JUSTIFICATION FOR INSCRIPTION

2.a. Statement of Significance

Masada is a cultural and natural heritage site, with universal importance. It

is an isolated rock in a far corner of the Judean Desert, facing the Dead
Sea and expressing the special geology and nature of that area. its
archaeological remnants relate to three periods of human habitation of the
site, periods chronologically separated from one another and different in
character from each other. Each stratum of habitation in Masada reflects,
on the one hand certain uniqueness, and on the other a fabric of interwined
human-cultural contexts of its period. In this chapter, we shall provide the
unique features of Masada, thanks to which we believe that it is worthy of
being a world heritage site.

Archaeological - Scientific and Historical Value

The three main periods represented at Masada, are:

l The period of King Herod the Great (reigned 37 - 4 BCE).

l The period of the Great Revolt - the revolt of the Jews against the
Romans (66 - 73 CE).
l The early Christian period - which is called in Israel, the Byzantine
Period (5’h and 6’h centuries CE).

Most of Masada site has been dug by a number of archaeological

expeditions. The buildings that have been uncovered, as well as the other
finds, have provided considerable scientific information on the relevant
periods. They have confirmed information from the historical sources,
regarding the story of Masada from the period of the Second Temple and
the Great Revolt, as reported by the historian Josephus Flavius - the sole
historic source on Masada.

Architectural Value

Herod built Masada in three phases during the time of his reign, and most
of the archaeological remnants on the mountain top are from his period.
Herod, King of Judea, of Edomite origion, about whose personality much
has been written, was known among other things as the Builder King. He
left his mark on many places in the Land of Israel, and it would appear that

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he reached on his pinnacles of his building at Masada, the heights of vision,
daring and genius. Herod brought to this remote, harsh place the best of
the skill of Roman construction and culture in real time. Herod was
thoroughly familiar with Roman culture and admired it, and it was important
to him to bring the “last word” in Roman architecture, the architectural
ornamentation, the customs of the Roman court and even to consume
goods and tools used by the Romans. Since bringing authentic building
materials from Italy and Greece was costly, Herod found local solutions that
appeared to look like the genuine article.

Herod’s daring and the skills of his artisans succeeded in turning Masada
into a king’s fortress, which could serve, if necessary, as a fortress and a
place of protection, and alternatively as a pleasure palace where the king
could indulge in the hedonistic delights he loved so much. In any event, it
was a place where solutions could be found to all the things necessary for a
man’s existence.

Masada’s uniqueness in this matter:

0 A water svstem - Water is the source of life and its importance in

isolated desert location is all the more significant. The solution which
Herod found for this, in addition to the cisterns dug out on the
mountain top, was the digging of twelve cisterns on two levels on the
northwestern slope of the mountain to which two aqueducts brought
the flood waters of two wadis in the region. One flood in the winter
could provide enough water to fill the cisterns to ensure an abundant
water supply for the entire year, not only for drinking and washing but
also for the pleasures of the swimming pools and the bath-house.

0 The Northern Palace - This was the private palace of King Herod who
succeeded in - finding the best shaded and coolest place on Masada,
overlooking breathtaking landscape. Its problematic location, a narrow
place on a steep slope dropping down into an abyss, did not deter a
man like Herod. He knew where to find the rock that was geologically
most solid (as proven by modern testing), to carve it and fashion it
according to his will into three steps (or terraces) by hewing and
construction and place upon it a palace with columns decorated in
stucco, Pompii-style frescoes popular at the time, mosaics and the
like. The palace was built of soft lime stone, not locally available. On
its eastern side the king’s private bath-house was built on the slope,
while on its western side, steps were built reaching all the terraces of
the palace. A number of sections which were built on the palace’s

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 southern side, made access difficult for anyone who was out of favor
with the king.

0 The Roman Siege Svstem - This is the only complete system of its
kind that survived from the Roman period and there is an excellent
view of it from the mountain. The system is made up of eight Roman
camps, a siege-wall and a ramp of earth and wood built on the
western, more gradually sloping, side of Masada, on which (according
to Josephus Flavius) the battering ram, which breached the wall, was
carried up. The point where the breach was made is clearly seen
today, as well.

National Value

Josephus Flavius’s account of the revolt of the Jews, who realized that their
end was near and preferred to commit suicide and die as free people as
opposed to the option of living in slavery and degradation in Rome, became
in the 20th century the Myth of Masada. The Myth was one of the corner
stones of the Zionist Movement, whose desire was to renew the Jewish life
in Zion, which is the Land of Israel.

The pinnacle of the identification with the Myth, as an example of valor and
sacrifice, was during the Second World War. At that time the Jewish
population in the country was threatened from the north and south by Nazi
and pro-Nazi forces, and a plan was formulated, called “Masada on Mt.
Carmel”, along the lines of the ancient model. According to this plan, the
Jewish population would be gathered together on Mt. Carmel, to defend
itself against the enemy - the few against the many, liberty or death.

In the end, there was no need to implement this plan, but its implications
were preserved in the national consciousness for many years to come, and
no doubt contributed to Masada’s becoming a pilgrimage site for members
of the youth movements, the pre-State underground movements and of
soldiers and school pupils after the State of Israel was founded in 1948.

Religious Value

While Masada is not considered a sacred place, the archaeological finds

indicating the existence of religious rites at the place have granted it
religious significance, as well.

The synagogue on Masada is one of the few synagogues that existed at

the time when the Second Temple stood in Jerusalem. In our times, Jews

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from all over the world flock to Masada to celebrate their children’s Bar
Mitzvah, ceremonies accompanied by prayers and great emotions.

The Byzantine Church on Masada, is one of the first churches of early

Christianity, and it is the southernmost church in the Judean Desert. The
church is located in the center of the mountain top, at a high point, and its
walls have been preserved to a considerable height. In addition to this,
some of its mosaics and unique wall decorations (inlay of potsherds and
stones in the wall plaster) have been preserved.

The Byzantine complex also includes hermits’ cells, a communal dining

room and kitchen and agricultural devices.

The church attracts many visitors and groups of Christian pilgrims who hold
religious ceremonies there.

Aesthetic Values

Masada mountain is part of the western border fault scarp on the shore of
the Dead Sea, incised by wadis that separate it from the sequence of the
rock to the west and left it an isolated mountain.
This isolation resulted in its being sought after by man as a place of refuge
and protection.

The mountain towers over its surroundings, and anyone standing on it sees
the primeval and untamed landscape of the Judean Desert and the Dead
Sea. A considerable effort has been invested by various factors to prevent
construction on the periphery viewed from Masada and to leave the
primeval landscape untouched.

Economic Value

Masada, with its magical landscape, archaeological relics, historical

background and religious and national significance, is a lodestone for
visitors, many of whom are foreign tourists, and their number increase from
year to year. The quantity of visitors and the expected increase in tourism,
require that constant improvements be made in the visitor services and
enhancing the experience of the visit - on the one hand, and the
conservation of the site so that its condition does not deteriorate - on the
other.
The movement of tourists and visitors to the site is of economic value: a
source of income for the local population and a source of foreign currency
for the State of Israel.

Natural Value

Masada is an isolated cliff part of the Judean Fault Cliff that lies between
the Dead Sea low area and the Judean Desert edge platform. The area of
the national park with its surrounding buffer forms a unique landscape and
ecosystem of many different components. The Judean desert is a local
desert caused by the Judean mountain ridge that prevents precipitation in
the area. On the other side lies the Dead Sea, the lowest point in the
world, and the oases that act like refuges for wild animals and plants. The
whole area is a meeting point between the extreme desert, the steppe and
the Mediterranean biogeographical sources. The result is a unique
ecosystem that contains a very special expression of human cultures.

2.b. Comparative Analysis

The attempt to compare Masada to other sites is a difficult task, and it

appears unique unto itself. Its uniqueness is expressed in the fact that
Masada is a king’s fortress in the desert surrounded by a complete Roman
siege system, the only one of its kind to survive. Masada, integrating these
elements, is a unique phenomenon.

The majority of the construction on Masada was done by King Herod, a

little over two thousands years ago. As is known, King Herod was not
removed from the cultural milieu of his period - both the Roman Empire
which ruled over this part of the world, and the Jewish religious and cultural
world. Therefore, by the nature of things Masada represents also elements
extant in that period (in addition to its unique kind of integration).

We have already mentioned the unique nature of the Northern Palace,

which has no equal, and the sophisticated water system. We are,
nevertheless, familiar with water systems from other periods and other
places. The architecture and ornamentation discovered at Masada - stucco,
frescoe, mosaics, plaster - are well anchored in their period. Fortresses and
buildings such as palaces, bath houses, storerooms, walls, ritual baths and
the like are very well known.
Elements typical of the Jewish world at the time of the Great Revolt
indicate, on the one hand, strict observance of religious commandments,
and poverty and privation, on the other. This is known to have existed in
other parts of the Land of Israel, as well. However, the story of the heroic
end of the Jewish inhabitants of Masada, is truly unique, and the existence
of synagogue dating back to the period of the Second Temple, is rarely
seen.

The complete Roman siege system has already been mentioned, and we
should like to note here, in this context, the rare concurrence at Masada
between the archaeological finds connected with the Romans (and the
Herodian construction) and the historical source on the subject, the account
by Josephus Flavius of the siege and the breach of Masada.

The uniqueness of Masada is in how all the above-mentioned elements fit

in with the historical account and the natural context in which the entire
system is integrated.

As for the Byzantine period - Masada served as another model of a

community of Early Christians who wished to live in isolation with its
Creator. Each community and its characteristics, each community and its
solutions. Masada - an example of a modest, ascetic community which left
behind it a church with local ornamentation, with no analogies. The
Byzantine settlement at Masada is the southernmost point of the Early
Christians in the Judean Desert - another special feature of it.

2.~. Authenticity / Integrity

Policy of the Development Plan for Masada

A development project for Masada, which began in 1995, is now reaching

its conclusion. The following are among the defined aims of this project:

l Conserving and enhancing the material and cultural assets inherent

in the Masada site.
l Imparting the story of Masada to the visitors, making it reach
experience for them.
l Providing a proper level of services for the visitors to the site.

The need to improve the reception of the public at the site, while maintain
its character, gave rise to a number of decisions concerning value and
quality, including the following:

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 l The planning of the project would allow disabled people to reach the
mountain top and enjoy the main visiting sites.

l The complex of the new construction would be far away from the
siege system, which is an important element, in both the content and
visual contexts, of Masada.

l Every possible effort would be made to tone down this construction

and to limit its visibility from the mountain top.

l Auxiliary tourists services, operated on commercial bases, are to be

built for the exclusive use of the public visiting the Masada site.

l The fee for the entrance to the site and for the use of the cablecar will
in future be maintained at a realistic level.

l No tourist hotel services will be built at Masada with the exception of

a new youth hostel to replace the existing one.

The mountain top - The appearance of the site will be maintained in

keeping with the layout that has survived from ancient times.
Conservation work will be carried in keeping with the composition of
the original materials (which have been examined and studied in the
laboratory). In the event that reconstruction is carried out, it will be
minimal and a black line will mark the separation of the original from
the reconstruction. Only the most essential additions will be made for
the comfort and safety of the visitors, and will be hidden from view as
much as possible.

Background work designed to obtain exact data for the preparation of the
various plans, included:

1. A survey of archaeological components and potential.

2. A conservation survey, carried out by the Antiquities Authority,
documented the physical condition of the remnants.
3. A forecast of the number of visitors to the site up to the year 2010.
4. A survey and mapping of visitors movement at the site.
5. A quantitative and qualitative survey of the satisfaction and
expectations of the visitors to the site.
6. A forecast of the number of users of the cablecar.
7. A forecast and program for the commercial areas.
8. Proposals and ideas for presenting and imparting the Masada story.
9. A survey and mapping of the physical infrastructure.

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 IO. The definition of the infrastructure’s needs at the site.

All of the above represent the guidelines in the framework of the

development plan for Masada, whose implementation was begun in 1995.
However, the history of modern-day work on the site had begun 30 and
even more years earlier.

The History of the excavations and Conservation Policy at Masada

The first excavations carried out in Masada (not including those of de

Saulcy in 1851) were part of a survey set out in 1955/6 on behalf of the
Israel Exploration Society, the Hebrew University and the Department of
Antiquities, headed by the Professors N. Avigad, M. Avi Yonah, Dr. Y.
Aharoni and Messrs. I. Dunayevski and S. Guttman.

The main excavations were carried out by Prof. Y. Yadin’s expedition in the
years 1963 to 1965. The digs were carried out on behalf of the Hebrew
University with the aid of the Department of Antiquities and the Israel
Exploration Society.
These excavations were carried out in conjunction with conservation and
reconstruction works - in keeping with the best knowledge available at that
time - by the National Parks Authority (NPA), which at the time was called
the Department for Landscaping and the Preservation of Historical Sites.
During the excavations, and for a year after their completion (1966) large
scale of reconstruction and development work was carried out, mainly
raising the height of the walls (in the Western Palace, the synagogue, the
storerooms, etc.), as well as the conservation of the frescoes in the
Northern Palace.

An additional excavation was made by Prof. E. Netzer, of the Hebrew

University in 1989. Prof. Netzer made some other short-time excavations
within the the framework of the development project at Masada between
the years 1995 to 2000.

Another excavation, headed by Prof. G. Foerster of the Hebrew University,

was carried out in 1995, in Camp F and the Roman siege ramp, on the
west foot of Masada mountain.

As a part of the development project, a Masada conservation team was set

up and underwent a six-month training period by experts of the Antiquities
Authority. The team became familiar with modern conservation techniques,
and among its tasks was the breaking up of the cement pointed corners

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that had been in use in the 1960’s and replace them with mortar and plaster
of the same composition as had been used in the original construction.

The team works according to a conservation master-plan devised by the

NPA conservation planning architect and the planning team of the mountain
top.

This plan integrated conservation needs - with priority to the urgent ones -
and tourism needs. The project is financed by the Ministry of Tourism,
whose order of priorities did not necessarily fit in with that of the
conservation.

The team continues working according to the conservation master-plan,

which is up-dated from time to time according to progress made, or in
keeping with urgent conservation needs which occasionally crop up.
Once the project is completed, part of the team will remain as permanent
conservation maintenance team at the site.

In the time between the completion of Yadin’s excavations (I 965) and the
beginning of the development project (1995), routine conservation
maintenance carried at Masada when need arose.

Since the establishment of the special conservation team, who specializing

in problems unique to Masada, knowledgeable on the ancient constructing
traditions at the site, the conservation and reconstruction work has been
upgraded, and the site’s appearance has improved. The emphasis is put on
professional conservation work and the preservation of the site’s
authenticity.

Policy of Architectural and Landscape Development

In the framework of the project, development work was done and new ones
replaced old elements, while care was taken to maintain the principles
noted above. Among other things, solid paths to accommodate the disabled
people were built of materials similar in appearance and color to the
general scene on the mountain top. All the other paths and elements of
development (sunshades, for example) are being put on the surface and all
of them are reversible and removable.

In addition, signs and other illustrative means have been added as a

service to the visitors, and they, too, are reversible.

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In view of the increase in the number of visitors, a cablecar was installed in
1972 carrying the visitors to the mountain top. The decision to have a
cablecar in the site was based on the consideration of the need and the
relief of the visitors (although this idea had a great objection on value and
aesthetic background).

In the framework of the development project this cablecar was replaced

with a new one, able to transport twice the number of passengers and it is
accessible to wheelchairs. The old cablecar was replaced in order to
eliminate the long queues waiting to board.

In addition to this, a modern entrance complex was built on the mountain

foot adjacent to Masada, in the desert-color of Masada. The complex was
built for the convenience of the visitors, and facilitated the removal of the
former entry buildings that had been scattered among the Roman camps
and impaired their appearance. The removal of the buildings will allow for a
view of the site and the Roman camps with no interference from modern
construction.

From the upper station of the cablecar, the “cliff bridge” leads the visitors
onto the mountain top, through the historical entrance, the Snake Path
Gate.

The NPA held a public hearing regarding the form of entrance to the
mountain top: by means of a tunnel or a bridge. The public, as well as the
professionals, was divided in their opinion. The NPA decided that the entry
would be by a means of a bridge, which is removable and allows the
visitors to view the landscape and enter the site through the historical gate.
For the first time, the bridge allows access to the mountain top to
wheelchair-bound people.

It should be noted that the rejection of the tunnel option, although it was
less expensive of the two, had its roots in the following:
l The tunnel required digging into the Masada mountain - an
irreversible process.
l The tunnel required an exit to the mountain top through a prominent
building, that would have changed the existing historical network of
the buildings on the mountain top.

In this manner, a situation was created in which the upper station of the
cablecar and the cliff bridge have been added and placed on Masada’s
eastern slope, but are not seen from the site of the antiquities on the

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mountain top, and are reversible, i.e., can be removed. Their construction
was designed to serve the visitors and make access to the site easier.

The Integrity

While it is possible that the upper station and the bridge do impair the
integrity of the site to a certain degree, it must be emphasized that they can
be seen from outside the site, on the eastern side only, and cannot be seen
from the site itself. Generally speaking, the site and its surroundings have
retained their original appearance, as they were seen during the first period
of their construction, or as they looked when the archaeological digs had
been completed.

The little reconstruction made on the buildings or their finer elements (in
ornamentation and architecture) and the additions designed to improve the
visitors’ experience, that not changed the appearance of the site to any
significant degree.

The Visible Periphery

As part of the site’s authenticity, the NPA (Nature and Parks Authority)
does not permit any construction in the periphery viewed from the site.
There have been some attempts to build hotels and roads in this area, but
all of them were foiled by the NPA and other Green organizations.

The view of the periphery from Masada reveals the landscape of the
Judean Desert and the fault scarp of the Dead Sea and on the other side,
there are the hills of Moab in Jordan. The only building seen from part of
the mountain top, is the entrance complex, partly hidden behind the
adjacent mountain. This eye contact was necessary in stretching the cable
of the cablecar.

On the western side, where the differences in height are smaller and the
landscape is more moderate, construction is minimal and light. The most
prominent sight in this area are the open theatre seats of the sound and
light show.

It should be noted that Masada is bounded on the north, south and west by
the Judean Desert Nature Reserve, which ensures that there will be no
construction in the region, since it is forbidden by State Law.

The areas to the east of Masada and up to the Dead Sea (which are
viewed from Masada) a re defined as “open areas” and “agricul tural areas”

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- a status which ensures the preservation of the open rural landscape, in
the case of the agricultural land, and the preservation of the open areas in
their natural state, by the relevant authorities.

2.d. Criteria under which inscription is proposed

Masada is an archeological site with natural importance and significance. It

meets therefore the criteria of both a cultural and a natural heritage site.

As an archeological site it is an outstanding example of architectural and

technological ensembles which illustrates significant stages in human
history, and is directly associated with events, traditions, ideas and beliefs
that are projected and incorporated in art and literature (criteria iii and vi for
cultural properties).

As a natural site, it is an outstanding example of major stages in earth’s

history, contains significant geological processes as well as significant
physiographic features. It is also an area of exceptional natural beauty and
aesthetic importance (criteria i and iii for natural properties).

The existence of Masada as a cultural heritage site derives directly from its
unique natural position. It is an isolated cliff, in the middle of the Judean
desert, facing the Dead Sea in one side and the desert platform on the
other, and is situated on the edge between them - the fault cliff. The whole
scenery is included within the buffers of the site, which are fully protected
by law as part of the Judean desert nature reserve.

Regarding the criteria in detail:

CULTURAL CRITERIA

I. Human Creative Genius

Human creative genius is clearly represented in Masada by two prominent

feats of construction:
The genius, sophisticated water system which transformed a barren,
isolated, natural made fortress -the mountain top, set in an arid, dry climate
(less then 50 mm. yearly rainfall and without natural water sources) into a
lavish royal retreat with a grand, classic bath house, two large swimming
pools and an ample water supply. A system which utilized run-off water
from one day of rain to sustain life for up 1,000 people for 2-3 years,
including self sustaining agriculture.

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The water system so accurately designed and executed to capture run-off
rain water, so precious in such a harsh desert climate. On the mountain top
gutters and canals diverted water from roofs and unbuilt areas into small
pools and grand cisterns. Water from slopes of the mountain were diverted
by canals into a series of grand cisterns cut into the side of the mountain.
These cisterns also received run off water from flash floods of riverbeds
west of Masada. The system was so efficient that the water collected was
used not only for survival needs but served the leisure needs of the royal
family. Remnants such as the Large Bath House and the large outdoor
swimming pools attest to this.

The “hanging” Northern Palace with its three terraces present the
ultimate challenge for man as a designer / builder with nature in extreme
dynamic conditions during the classic period in the Land of Israel. This is
the only remaining monument from the period of King Herod, the great
builder, which clearly shows the daring, determination, understanding of
natural forces, use of state of the art materials and techniques up to date
design and richly decorated classical architecture. The terraces of the
palace were carved into the prow-like northern summit with dynamic and
threatening geological decay.

The building revetments and extensions to the natural rock-bed to allow the
perfect foundation needed for the classical architecture, all surrounded by a
400 meter abyss.

The palace is a masterpiece of classical capabilities in engineering and

architecture, miraculously surviving to present and awaiting conservation
intervention to ensure its future.

Mo-dern rock engineering and geological surveys have shown that King
Herod knew to choose areas with the most stable geological rock as
foundation to his palace.

II. Interchange of Human Values

The important interchange of human values over a span of time in

developments of architecture and landscape design are clearly visible at
Masada by the three Herodian and the later Zealots building phases.

The early Herodian building phase - Incorporated - if there were any -

Hasmonean - Hellenistic remains and anchored Masada as the leading
stronghold and the last refuge of King Herod. A phase of survival, but also

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of adaptation of classical Roman style architecture and lifestyle, to an arid
region with many natural limitations, and to a conservative population who
opposed the Roman world.

The main Herodian phase - Introduced to Masada the classical

architecture and lavishness fit for a king designing into the building plans,
full integration with the magnificent landscape. A phase of extravagant
living tuned to the desert landscape.

The late Herodian phase - Fortified Masada and made strategically

changes showing the attributes of the personality of the king uncertain of
his future. A phase of fear and paranoia changing the architecture to
withstand all possible assaults.

The later Zealot phase - Introduced Masada to a humble architecture built

by refugees driven by a highly religious and anti Hellenistic I Roman way of
life. A phase of simple modest life adapted to the elements of the desert
and hoping to withstand and survive the impending onslaught.

III. C.ultural Tradition and Civilization

The unique testimony of Masada to cultural tradition and civilization which

has disappeared is evident in the significance of the synagogue. The fall of
Masada in 73 AD symbolized the end of the Second Temple period and a
major turning point in the Jewish history. The Synagogue of Masada being
one of the earliest examples of a praying religious ceremonial building
during the last phase of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and after its
destruction. The structure’s design and the unique holly scrolls unearthed,
narrating the “Dry Bones Vision” of the prophet Ezekiel symbolize a cultural
tradition at a critical turning point with echoes to modern Judaism and the
State of Israel.

IV. Stages in Human History

The ruins of Masada, comprised of several stages and types of buildings,

are reflecting certain stages in human history. Among the buildings and
their construction periods are included: classical Roman architecture such
as palaces, bath houses, storerooms, ingenious water system and military
system. Humble dwellings of the Jewish Zealots which were built in the
midst of a revolt against the Roman empire. The Zealots’ construction
included also a synagogue and ritual baths. A complete monastery laura
from early Christianity times. All of the buildings and systems are amazingly

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adapted to the arid surroundings and to the topographical
conditions.

From all the ruins of Masada, there are two, which may illustrate significant
stages in human history:

The Roman military siege system surrounding the Masada mountain is

the only complete system in the world, almost unexcavated and
undisturbed. This system withholds important information about the daily
life of the Roman soldier, Roman military logistics and strategy and the last
moment of the confrontation. All as vital testimony of a civilization which
has disappeared. Siege systems such as surrounded Masada were the
backbone building and maintaining the Roman empire and thus illustrate a
significant stage in human history.

The Northern Palace bears the witness to the daring and capabilities of
man in classical times. The terraces built into the northern slope of Masada,
surrounded by a 400 meter abyss, exposed to harsh desert climate, sudden
destructive rains, high-speed sand carrying winds, unstable geologically
dolomite rock and the Syrian-African rift valley. The daring personality of
the great builder, King Herod, together with the use of state of the art
technologies and materials and the understanding and the conforming to
natural forces and processes put the Northern Palace of Masada in a stage
of its own.

Today’s efforts to investigate and conserve the remnants of the palace

reveal, without a doubt, that the Northern Palace bears witness to a
significant stage in human history. It shows that man searched for device
and carried out solutions to advance humankind in spite of the traditional
“obstacles” and challenges set forth by nature.

VI. Human Values of Important Significance to Mankind

The ruins and legacy (historical accounts) of Masada are directly

associated with the utmost human values of important significance to
mankind. Issues decided at Masada, such as the few against the many,
liberty versus slavery, religious freedom versus oppression, life versus
death - are universal moral and academic discussion and will continue
being as such long after present time.

The symbolism of the epic of Masada in the formation of the modern State
of Israel is best coined in the phrase “Masada shall not fall again”. The
phrase was coined in the pre-State times, relating to a situation two

16
thousands years back, as well as to the Zionist Movement’s struggle for the
Promised Land for the Jews in the 20th century.

NATURAL CRITERIA

i. An outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s

history

Masada and its area are an outstanding presentation of a geological

phenomenon and physiographic features. The shape of Masada, its
isolation, the sheerness of its cliffs and the structure of its rocks are the
result of the geological factors, which formed the Judean Desert and the
Dead Sea Valley. Many of Masada’s features as a unique fortress are due
to its unusual location in the area.

The fault scarp is the direct result of the gigantic fault, which created the
Dead Sea Valley. This is the reason for the high, sheer cliffs. The eastern
cliff of Masada is part of this scarp. The transition from the Judean Desert
to the Dead Sea is abrupt, by a precipitous slope that is almost vertical in
places. The maximum height of this precipice is 600 meters, over a
horizontal distance of less than one kilometer.

In some places among the fault line, another unusual phenomenon occurs.
There is a second fault line lifting the opposite side, about 2 kilometers to
the west of the great scarp, running parallel to it. This caused the area
adjoining it in the west to sink even lower than the terrain between the two
fault lines. Thus, the tall rock wall along the eastern edge of the Judean
Desert - especially in its central portion - is higher than the area which
borders it on the west, contrary to the general slope of the Judean Desert.
The western slope of Masada - which adds to its isolation and natural
defenses - is the result of this secondary fault line.

ii. Significant on-going ecological processes

The Judean Desert occupies the eastern slope of the Judean Hills, tending
towards the Dead Sea. Its length, from north to south, is 60 - 80 kilometers,
and its width, from east to west is 20 - 25 kilometers. It is this location that
makes it a desert, since it lies within the shadow of the cloud-bearing winds
that ensure the rainfall of the Judean hills precipitation is low, and
decreases very rapidly from west to east. However, the Judean Desert is
not entirely arid. A relatively rainy winter is enough to give the region the
appearance of green pastureland.
The existence of such a gradient, with a difference of 600 meters, over a
horizontal distance of less than one kilometer is an example for the
contrasts of the area. The Judean Hills, west of the desert, reach heights
of 800 - 1000 meters above sea level; the valley on the shore of the Dead
Sea, in the east, falls to almost 400 meters below sea level. This vertical
height difference, 1400 meters over a horizontal distance of only 25
kilometers, can give some indication of the character of this area. Such a
gradient can serve as a measuring ruler for the influence of climate change
on the gradient between the desert and the Mediterranean climates and the
related ecosystems.

...
III. Exceptional natural beauty

Masada lies on the boundary line between two geographic regions: the
Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. It is linked with both of these, yet
separated; it overlooks them and is influenced by them. The view from
Masada is a spectacular, breath-taking scenery, the same as that affected
the people who first built Masada.

West of Masada lies the Judean Desert. It is a landscape of hills that form
terraces and are overtopped by two mountains. It is an arid desert land, yet
it can take on softness and color during a rainy winter, when plants burst
into bloom.

In the east, our gaze drops down to a wildly dissected terrain. It consists
mainly of thin black and white layers, and is cut into imaginative shapes in
vertical relief. At its eastern edge lies the Dead Sea, which changes color
with the passing hours of the day. It is perhaps most beautiful at sunset,
when the long shadow of Masada gradually spreads across it. The sea then
loses its deep blue afternoon color, and reflects a softened version of the
Mountains of Moab above it, colored a strong purple by the setting sun.

This whole scenery is a breathtaking exceptional beauty of high aesthetic

importance.

iv. Significant natural habitats

The main importance of the area, including its buffer, is the diverse natural
habitats that support-the natural biodiversity. The Judean Hills, west of the
desert, reach heights of 800 - 1000 meters above sea level; the valley on
the shore of the Dead Sea, in the east, falls to almost 400 meters below
sea level, the lowest place on earth. The vertical height difference is 1400
meters over a horizontal distance of only 25 kilometers. Precipitation in
that area is very scarce and decreases from west to east. Therefore, the
amount of vegetation decreases rapidly from west to east. In the east,

18
around Masada, desert shrubs predominate, many of them from the
biogeographical Saharo-Arabian or Irano-Turanian origin. However, the
proximity of the Mediterranean zone has made it easy for Mediterranean
plants to penetrate many of the desert plant associations. In this harsh
environment they occupy valley beds and pockets of soil in rock expanses.
East of the fault scarp, in the Dead Sea Valley, the contrast between the
various habitats is even more marked: acacia trees and other plants of
Sudanese origin grow in the watercourses and on the sides of the valleys.
These plants utilize the shallow groundwater. This, together with the warm
climate, creates conditions that are almost tropical. Most of the plants here
are Saharo-Arabian. The plant cover in the areas between the
watercourses is very sparse. On top of the climatic gradient exists a
mosaic of microhabitats supporting a variable and unique biodiversity.

19
3. DESCRIPTION

3.a. Description of Property

Masada was chosen as a royal fortress primarily because of its

inaccessibility. The combination of steep slopes and towering cliffs forged a
formidable defense system.

The Landscape

Masada lies on the boundary line between two geographic regions: the
Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. It is linked with both of these, yet
separated; it overlooks them and is influenced by them. It is no accident
that Masada with its wealth of associations, is located here. It grew out of
the landscape, and derived its special character from it. The landscape is
an integral part of our understanding of Masada. The same spectacular,
breath-taking scenery that we see must have affected the people who first
built Masada.

West of Masada lies the Judean Desert. Only the few modern structures at
the western foot of the mountain make the present-day view different from
that seen by the former inhabitants and builders. It is a landscape of hills
that form terraces and are overtopped by Mount Ben Yair and Mount
Kana’im (the Hill of the Zealots). It is an arid desert land, yet it can take on
softness and color during a rainy winter, when plants burst into bloom.

In the east, our gaze drops down the precipice to a wildly dissected terrain,
created by the rock of the Lissan Formation. This geological formation
consists mainly of thin black and white layers, and is cut into imaginative
shapes in vertical relief. At its eastern edge lies the Dead Sea, which
changes color with the passing hours of the day. It is perhaps most
beautiful at sunset, when the long shadow of Masada gradually spreads
across it. The sea then loses its deep blue afternoon color, and reflects a
softened version of the Mountains of Moab above it, colored a strong
purple by the setting sun.

The Lissan promontory stretches into the sea on the east side across from
Masada. It, too, consists of Lissan Formation rock. The last few years have
brought changes in the southern part of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea
Works has turned the shallow southern basin into evaporation pans for the
extraction of potash. Cape Costigan is the northern tip of the Lissan, and

20
Cape Molyneux - the southern tip. The narrow strip of water between Cape
Molyneux and the Israeli shore is the Lynch Strait. Christopher Costigan
and Thomas Howard Molyneux were British explorers, and William Francis
Lynch was an American naval officer. The three were lgth-century pioneers
in the study of the Dead Sea, and are honored by these place names.

When visibility is good, green patches are seen at the eastern edge of the
Lissan. These are the fertile farmlands of Chor e-Numeireh and Chor
al-Mazra’. The mountains of Moab form an impressive frame above the
view. At night, the lights of Kerak, capital of Biblical Moab, can be seen on
the mountains; during the day, the city is barely visible through binoculars.
Further north and below the skyline is another ancient fortress, its name
linked with Masada. This is Machaerus, east of the Jordan, the last Jewish
stronghold, fell in the Romans’ hands in 72 AD, the last one to fall, except
of Masada, during the great Jewish revolt against the Romans.

In the south, a great fault scarp stretches away to the horizon. This is the
western wall of the Syrian-African Rift Valley, and forms the boundary
between the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea region. The eastern cliff of
Masada is part of this fault scarp. In The southwest, the broad flat top of
Mount Sedom rises above the sea. From Masada, Mt. Sedom appears
quite different from its more commonly seen view - vdrtical cliffs - from
Sedom, at the foot of the mountain. In clear weather, the green expanses
of the Sedom salt marshes, Ne’ot HaKikar and e-Safi the Biblical Zoar - can
be seen, south and southeast of the sea. The mountains that continue the
tall eastern backdrop, stretching away in the southeast, past the deep
canyon of Nahal Zered (Hesy), are named for the Biblical region of Edom.

In the north, the landscapes of the Judean Desert merge into the distance:
the canyon of Nahal Ze’elim, the green oasis of En Gedi, the dark cliff of
Rosh Zukim (Ras-Feshkha) dropping into the sea, and the white line which
marks the northern shore of the Dead Sea. The view from Mount Ben Yair
or Mount Kana’im, higher up, opens out even farther, all the way north to
Jerusalem, or even Mount Ba’al Hazor, in the Samarian hills. The
landscapes all around Masada have played a significant role in shaping its
unique character and history. The very appearance and structure of the
mountain are unique.

Geography

Masada, though separated from its immediate surroundings by deep

valleys and gorges, is intimately connected with its setting, by threads

21
 visible and invisible, abstract and tangible, geographical and psychological.
The shape of the mount, its isolation, the sheerness of its cliffs and the
structure of its rocks are the result of the geological factors, which formed
the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea Valley. Many of Masada’s features as
a unique fortress are due to its unusual location in the area, and its
distance from roads suitable for the passage of a large, cumbersome army.
The character of the region has played an integral role. The lack of major
settlement centers nearby necessitates long supply lines for defenders and
attackers alike. The lack of water is a problem that, if solved by the
defenders, aggravates the situation of the attackers, and indirectly adds to
the strength of the fortress. The dry air enables food and ammunition to be
stored for many years. Finally, there is an intangible but very real factor-
the atmosphere of the site, which it shares to a great extent with the
Judean Desert. This last factor can only be fully appreciated by those who
have lived on Masada or in the desert.

The Judean Desert occupies the eastern slope of the Judean Hills, tending
towards the Dead Sea. Its length, from north to south, is 60 - 80 kilometers,
and its width, from east to west is 20 - 25 kilometers. It is this location that
makes it a desert, since it lies within the shadow of the cloud-bearing winds
that ensure the rainfall of the Judean hills precipitation is low, and
decreases very rapidly from west to east. However, the Judean Desert is
not entirely arid. A relatively rainy winter is enough to give the region the
appearance of green pastureland.

Flocks find fresh grazing in the Judean Desert for several months a year.
The root of the Hebrew word for desert, “midbar”, actually signifies the
grazing area for flocks. The Judean Hills, west of the desert, reach heights
of 800 - 1000 meters above sea level; the valley on the shore of the Dead
Sea, in the east, falls to almost 400 meters below sea level. This vertical
height difference, 1400 meters over a horizontal distance of only 25
kilometers, can give some indication of the character of this area and its
great steepness. A series of wrinkles and faults in the earth’s crust,
generally extending from north to south (in most cases tilting slightly to the
south-southeast) creates a stepped structure in some places. A steeper
slope succeeds a moderate slope (along a topographical section from west
to east). Thus, the average gradient does not always reflect the situation at
any given point.

The transition from the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea is abrupt, by a
precipitous slope that is almost vertical in places. The maximum height of
this precipice is 600 meters, over a horizontal distance of less than one
kilometer. This fault scarp is the direct result of the gigantic fault, which

22
created the Dead Sea Valley. This is the reason for the high, sheer cliffs.
The eastern cliff of Masada is part of this scarp.

In some places among this fault line, an unusual phenomenon occurs.

There is a second fault line lifting the opposite side, about 2 kilometers to
the west of the great scarp, running parallel to it. This caused the area
adjoining it in the west to sink even lower than the terrain between the two
fault lines. Thus, the tall rock wall along the eastern edge of the Judean
Desert - especially in its central portion, between Nahal Ye’elim and Nahal
Tze’elim - is higher than the area which borders it on the west, contrary to
the general slope of the Judean Desert. This is most noticeable near
Masada. The western slope of Masada - which adds to its isolation and
natural defenses - is the result of this secondary fault line.

The valleys of the Judean Desert generally slope downwards from west to
east. Their courses are incised by a system of faults and lines of geological
weakness. The valley beds are dry for most of the year, and carry water
only for a day or two after a particularly strong rainstorm. Since the valley
bed cuts through a series of hard and soft rock layers, its character
changes accordingly. In soft chalk it creates a network of shallow, wide
beds in a hilly landscape; in hard limestone or dolomite, it creates a single
gorge, deep and canyon-like, cutting along a weak line in a landscape
which is essentially fiat. Thus, a system is formed of valleys whose beds
are a succession of gorges and shallow areas, down to the mouth of the
valley in the east. The gorges of the Judean Desert are hundreds of
meters deep, and pose a problem to travelers, by the same token that
makes them attractive to hikers. Traditional routes through the Judean
Desert have always bypassed the deepest parts of the valleys. Since the
rock layers exposed on the surface from north to south are continuous, the
shallow parts of adjoining valleys are often in a straight line, facilitating a
north-south route in a more or less straight direction cutting through several
valleys.

In addition to its greater height, as part of the “eastern wall” of the desert,
Masada lies in a zone of harder rock (to some degree, this is due to the
actual formation of this wall). Therefore, the valleys alongside are deep,
and their sides are steep and gorge like. Masada is bounded in the north.
and south by canyons which create its northern and southern precipices:
Nahal Masada in the south and Nahal Ha-Armon and Nahal ben-Ya’ir in the
north. The slopes of Masada are very steep on all sides. These slopes
form vertical walls in their middle or upper parts, 30 - 60 meters high in
most places; in the south east, the height is 100 meters. The bottom of this
cliff usually corresponds with sea level. The rest of the slope is not as

23
steep. In the east it is 275 meters high, and in the west only 50 meters.
The highest point on Masada is at the storerooms complex lookout point,
63 meters above sea level. The length of the mountain top, from the upper
terrace of the Northern Palace to the corner of the southern strong-hold, is
645 meters. At its widest point it is 315 meters. The area of the mountain
top is estimated at 20 acres.

Rock Structure

Most of Masada’s rocks consist of limestone and dolomite. The top is

mostly covered with hard dolomite, but softer rock is visible here and there.
Dolomite forms the slope, but at its foot, in a layer of water-impervious
marl, are the water cisterns of the northwestern slope. Marmoreal dolomite
rock is the location of the lower row of water cisterns. Massive dolomite
rock cliffs provide Masada with its tallest walls. The lowest portion of the
mount consists, alternately, of limestone, chalk and slates.

Wildlife

Hikers are likely to encounter some of the wildlife of the Judean Desert.
The most noticeable birds are the crows. Two species of black ravens
amuse visitors by their feats of flight. The brown-necked raven has a
low-pitched voice, and is slightly larger than the two species of black
ravens. Like good circus folk, they give the observer the feeling that they
are amusing themselves in the air rather than putting on a show for
spectators.

Another noticeable black bird is the Tristram’s grackle, a member of the

starling family. When its wings are spread, a bright orange spot appears at
the center. -Its calls are varied, and often resemble street whistles.
Tristram’s grackle is named for the zoologist Henry Baker Tristram who
visited the ruins of Masada in the course of his travels in the Holy Land.
Tristram’s grackle is considered a rare bird, although it is so common
around Masada. Its world distribution area stretches only from the Arabian
peninsula and the Aravah Valley, north to the Jordan Valley.

There are several species of poisonous snakes on Masada, a safe rule for
non-experts is to keep away from any snake. There are two species of
poisonous black snakes; despite common belief not all black snakes are
safe.

24
The golden Cairo spiny mouse is the only rodent you are likely to see on
Masada, since it is the only one active during the day in this hot climate. It
resembles an orange-red ball, with spines.

The Nubian Ibex lives in this region, and is seen quite frequently by the
enthusiastic visitors.

Vegetation

The amount of vegetation in the Judean Desert decreases rapidly from

west to east. In its eastern section, around Masada, desert shrubs
predominate, many of them originate in the Saharo-Arabian or
Irano-Turanian vegetation zones. However, the proximity of the
Mediterranean plant zone has made it easy for Mediterranean plants to
penetrate many of the desert plant associations. Naturally, in this harsh
environment they occupy the best niches, such as valley beds and pockets
of soil in rock expanses. East of the fault scarp, in the Dead Sea Valley,
the contrast between the various habitats is even more marked: acacia
trees and other plants of Sudanese origin grow in the watercourses and on
the sides of the valleys. These plants utilize the shallow groundwater. This,
together with the warm climate, creates conditions that are almost tropical.
Most of the plants here are Saharo-Arabian. The plant cover in the areas
between the watercourses is very sparse.

Historical Background

When talking about a historical site, one must first give some of its historical
background. Masada is special in that aspect that it is possible to compare
the archaeological finds with -an historical source. The historian of 1st
century CE, Josephus Flavius, is our sole source of knowledge of Masada.
A great deal of the information he gave, has been confirmed by the
archaeological finds.

According to Flavius, the first to fortify this natural defensive position was
“Jonathan the high priest” (Hasmonean). Until now, no finds of the
Hasmonean period (2nd - 1st century BCE) have been unearthed.

The most prominent construction work in Masada was done by King Herod
the Great (ruled 37 - 4 BCE), who built in this isolated place a king’s citadel,
as a refuge place for troubled times.

25
Following Herod’s death, Judea - including Masada - passed into the hands
of his son, Archelaus, who reigned for ten years. With him ended the
Herodian dynasty in the kingdom of Judea and Masada came under the
direct rule of the Roman procurators. The Roman garrison did not leave
behind any significant remains. However, it seems that the Romans
maintained and watched the mountain site faithfully and the many buildings
were hardly changed.

At the beginning of the Jewish revolt in 66 CE, a group of Jewish Zealots

surprised and captured the Roman garrison and held the place throughout
the war. Jewish patriots, from different political wings settled there,
especially after the destruction of Jerusalem and the second temple by
Titus in 70 CE.

In 72 CE, Flavius Silva, the Roman Governor, decided to crush this outpost
of resistance. He marched on Masada with his Tenth Legion, its auxiliary
troops and thousands of prisoners of war carrying all the equipment
needed. The Jews on top of the mountain, commanded by Elazar Ben Yair,
prepared themselves for defense.

Silva’s people prepared for a long siege. They built camps at the base of
the rock and a circumvallation (siege-wall) around the fortress. On a rocky
site near the western approach to Masada they constructed a ramp of
crushed earth and large stones. On the ramp they moved a siege tower
with a battering ram. They directed it against the fortress wall and
succeeded in making a breach in it, and this was the beginning of the end.

There was no hope for relief or escape for the besieged people on the
mountain. Only two alternatives were open: surrender or death. Ben Yair
resolved “that a death of glory was preferable to a life of infamy...” and
persuaded the 960 men, women and children to kill themselves.

When the Romans reached the top of Masada, the next morning, there was
silence. And, as Flavius wrote, “And so met (the Romans) with the
multitude of the slain, but could take no pleasure in the fact, though it were
done to their enemies. Nor could they do other than wonder at the courage
of their resolution.. .“. This later became the Masada myth.

After several hundreds years of abandonment, in the 5th and 6th centuries
CE, a small settlement of Byzantine monks was located on the site. They
built a modest chapel and lived in miserable dwellings and caves.

26
Description of Property

Hereby, are enclosed the buildings and topography plans of the mountain
top of Masada and plans of several of the monuments as well, for the
convenience of the reader.

Herodian Masada

The great majority of the buildings preserved and exposed on the mountain
top of Masada may be attributed to the substantial construction work
carried out by Herod, the builder-king. Though at first sight it would seem
that the remnants were built at the same time as one complex, further
research clearly indicates that Herod’s Masada was built in three phases.

Phase 1

The first building phase can be dated to around 35 BCE, a short time after
Herod gained control of Judea. The first building phase comprised of:

l The nucleus of the Western Palace

l Three small palaces, nos. 11, 12 and 13
l An administrative building, no. 7
l A residential house in barracks style, building no. 9
l Three columbaria that also functioned as watch towers
l Water installations, including several large cisterns and a swimming
pool (13x18 m.). The only water source in that phase was rainwater.
l The ascent to the fortress during that phase was via two paths, one
on the east (the Snake Path) and the other on the west.

The first architects sent to Masada to undertake the building project had,
apparently, previously served the Hasmonean royal court. The similarities
between the nucleus of the Western Palace and the small palaces and the
twin palaces in Jericho are striking. The resemblances lie in the general
plan, the open triclinium to the south of the central court, the bathing
facilities, structural details such as staircases and the decorative details
such as small triangular niches for lamps. The swimming pool, at Masada’s
southern end, was apparently also constructed along the same lines as the
many swimming pools built by the Hasmoneans in Jericho.

All the buildings built in the first phase are scattered over the mountain,
apparently without an overall pattern; the general picture does not point to a
preconceived layout.

27
Phase 2

The second building phase, which can be dated to the midtwenties of the
first century BCE, was the main phase of Herodian construction at Masada.
The second building phase comprised of:

l The Northern Palace

The Northern Palace is the most prominent edifice of the second phase and
one of the most outstanding building projects of Herod.
This structure was built on three natural rock terraces that were only slightly
modified to form the three levels of the palace. The palace served both as
the king’s residence when visiting the site and as the entertainment area for
the official guests.

The upper level, through which the palace was entered, served mainly as
residential quarters. Two wings of bedrooms flanked a hall; all were
originally decorated with mosaic floors and frescoes. North of the bedrooms
and the hall stretched a semicircular terrace surrounded by a row of
columns on each side. In the center of the terrace was an area open to the
sky; it may well have been a garden.

The two lower levels (the distance between the uppermost and lowermost
levels is approximately 30 m.) served as lavish reception halls, one
rounded and one rectangular, both surrounded by colonnades and
equipped with bathing facilities. Of the hall on the middle level, only the
foundation has survived: two concentric circular walls built directly on the
bedrock. This hall was certainly in the form of a tholos surrounded by a
portico. South of the hall there is evidence that several rooms existed, built
close to the rock and perhaps on two stories. Beside this level, a pool and a
water cistern were-uncovered.

The lower level is better preserved than the other two levels. Here was a
rectangular reception hall, the largest of its kind at Masada. The hall, like
the colonnades that surrounded it, was decorated with wall paintings and
Corinthian columns. In the basement, on the eastern side of the wall, there
are remains of a Roman-style bathhouse.

Entrance to the palace was through a trapezoid plaza. Below the plaza and
to its sides, several rooms have survived that were used for storage, and
also, apparently, for meal preparation. Two water cisterns were hewn in the
rock below these rooms. This service wing was directly connected to the
adjacent storerooms.

28
:\ :: ,
R
---
+
 l The large bathhouse

Close to the Northern Palace, on a hill to its south, was built a large
bathhouse that served not only the king and his family but also guests
accommodated in the “old” palaces.
The bathhouse included a large courtyard entrance that was probably used
as plaestra. The courtyard was surrounded by colonnades on all three
sides. The bathhouse itself contained:

l an entrance and changing room (apodyterium)

l a warm room (tepidarium)
l a cold room (frigidarium) in the form of a stepped pool
a a hot room (caldarium), which was the largest and most magnificent
of all, roofed by a barrel vault.

All the rooms and the courtyard, apart from the frigidarium, were originally
decorated with mosaics and frescoes. During the reign of Herod, the
mosaic floors of the bathhouse were replaced by a floor of colored stone
slabs (opus sectile).

Next to the bathhouse, a furnace and various water installations were

discovered.

l The storerooms complex

Adjacent to the palace was a large storage complex containing 18

storerooms, adequate for storage of weapons and many years’ supply of
food. 13 of the storerooms were 26 m. long; the rest were shorter. The
storerooms were encircled by a system of long corridors that were probably
also used for storage.

The storage complex , together with the administrative building no.7 and
the Northern Palace, all located at the highest point of the mountain,
formed together a kind of acropolis (the Northern Area). This compound
could easily be defended: only two entrances from the rest of the mountain
provided access to the whole Northern Area.
A system of two (and maybe a third one) towers also added to security.

l The Western Palace

The Western Palace was significantly enlarged during this building phase.
The residential wing (the nucleus) acquired two extensive service wings,
whose purpose was probably to supply needs such as storage of furniture,

29
 3’

/
;;ii.i

Pian j. Large Bathhouse.

domestic utensils and food, and perhaps even the preparation of food, not
only for this palace, but also for all the palaces spread over the mount.

l Water Cisterns

To this building phase belongs also the construction of a series of large

cisterns in the northwestern slope of Masada. Two rows of cisterns were
dug here: a lower row of 4 cisterns (130 m. below the summit), each with
capacity of about 4000 cubic meters, and an upper row of 8 cisterns (80 m.
below the summit), with average capacity of 3000 cubic meters each.

The water source from which these cisterns were filled was the winter
floods in the wadis west of the mountain. Through a network of dams and
channels, water was delivered into this system of cisterns, together
comprising a huge reservoir containing 40,000 cubic meters of water.

Mules or donkeys were used to carry the water from the cisterns to the
summit.

It is reasonable to assume that the first water system on Masada depended

on channeling rainfall runoff on the summit into water cisterns.

l Paths

Using two new paths, the water was hauled to the summit by mules or
horses. One path followed the upper row of the cisterns and ascended
below the Northern Palace to where the gatehouse (the Water Gate) stood,
a point southwest of the palace.
The second path followed the lower row of the cisterns, circled the northern
edge of the mountain and gradually ascended the eastern slope until it
joined - the Snake Path.

These two new paths were guarded by a strategically positioned tower at

the peak of the western cliff. The tower secured the twelve cisterns and the
summit against unauthorized access.

As opposed to the first phase, this main building phase reflects a clear
tendency towards careful planning and order. Additional buildings were no
longer scattered over the mountain but integrated into two main
compounds: the acropolis in the northern part and the enlarged Western
Palace. This tendency may reflect Herod’s personal viewpoint and
approach; the need for more efficient guarding of the mountain, even in
times of peace, was apparently the main factor behind this approach. The

30
building style also changed, and here too, Herod’s personal influence is
apparent, together with the influence of the new Roman architecture. The
construction of the Northern Palace in particular, on three natural terraces,
may well have been a personal innovation of the builder-king.

Phase 3

The third and final phase may be dated to around 15 BCE.

l The casemate wall

The only significant changes are the construction of the casemate wall
surrounding the entire mountain except for the acropolis area and a few
additional structures. The casemate wall, 1290 meters long, contained
nearly seventy rooms, many of which were more than thirty meters long,
and twenty seven towers. The wall’s average width - 6.5 m., with an outer
wall 1.4 m. thick and an inner wall about 95 cm. thick.
These casemate rooms were probably planned to serve for storage (their
average width is 4 meters, identical to the standard width of Masada’s other
storerooms) as well as living quarters for soldiers in times of emergency.

l The Gates

Three gates were incorporated in the casemate wall: the Western Gate, the
Southern Gate and the Snake Path Gate (the eastern gate).
A fourth gate - the Water Gate, which provided access to the Northern
Section, was not integrated into the casemate wall.

l Developments in the Northern Area

During the third phase, the Northern Area was also expanded:

l Three long storerooms were built flanking building no. 7 from its
southern and western sides. The entrance was through a guardroom.
l A few more storerooms were added south of the main block of
existing storerooms.
l A small bathhouse was built here as well.

Building no. 8 - An additional palace was built, closer to the Snake Path but
flanking the acropolis, which most likely served as the residence of the
mountain’s commander-in-chief. The planning of this building was inspired,
with modifications, by the small palaces built during the first phase.

31
 l The Western Palace

During the third building phase, the Western Palace was expanded again;
this time a few new wings were added, including 4 long storerooms. This
latter addition strengthens the assumption that the Western Palace served
as the logistic center for all the mountain’s palaces.

The Western Palace, in fact, is the only case in which a fourth building
phase, apparently Herodian as well, was noticed. To this fourth phase
belong the main palace’s entrance guardroom on its northern side and a
few changes in the service wings.

The Western Palace was the largest building on Masada (it covered an
area of about 4000 square meters). This was the ceremonial palace of king
Herod in Masada. This is evident from its size and plan and its ornaments
and the luxury of its equipment. Among the ornamentes: beautiful colored
mosaic floors and walls with white plaster imitating marble panels.

The third phase continued the order and the centrality that characterized
the second phase. Masada now reached the peak of its construction, and
the site was thus preserved until the Jewish revolt against the Romans, 70
years after Herod’s death.

Herodian Building Techniques at Masada

Walls built with undressed or partially dressed dolomite stones

Most of the Herodian walls in Masada were built of the local dolomite stone,
basically unworked and cemented with earth mortar. The local dolomite at
Masada, quarried on the mount, is hard and its physical properties are such
that it does not lend itself to precise dressing.

The stones were laid in courses. The larger ones, which were generally
partially dressed, were laid at the base of each course, while medium size
and small stones and stone chips, together with earth mortar, were used to
fill the gaps between them and to level the top of the course.

The only major effort made in order to carve the stones into block-shape
was for the construction of either corners or doorjambs. The relative sizes
of stones used in different walls varied from larger (up to 90 cm. in length
and sometimes even more) to medium (up to 45 cm. in length) sizes.

32
 A

B.

[ ixB 1
 . - c---- --*

Plan 72. Four stages of development

of Western Palace during
Herod’s reign:
A. first
B. second
C. third
D. fourth

n
The mortar used to consolidate these walls was made of local earth,
reinforced with straw. The same composition was often utilized also for
plastering. Only in one case - the walls around the Caldarium in the Large
Bathhouse - the mortar was based on lime.

The walls were built in an accurate manner - straight lines, uniform width
and horizontal courses. Their thickness generally varies from 60 to 95 cm.
Only rarely are they thinner. Walls thicker than the average were found
mainly in the fortification system and the Large Bathhouse. In any event,
the same building technique was employed for the foundations of all the
walls which very rarely are they thicker than the walls themselves.

All of these walls were originally plastered. Earth plaster was used in many
of the interiors, both for the walls and apparently also for the ceilings. It
seems that in many, if not all of these interiors, the earth plaster was a
preparation layer ultimately coated with lime, though very little of the latter
remained intact.

Lime based plaster (mixed with sand and stone grits) was used for three
different purposes:

I, For the plastering of interiors.

2. For partial plastering of the outer walls. Most of the large stones were
left exposed, although most of them were later whitewashed.
3. For complete plastering of some of the outer walls, apparently in the
more elaborate buildings.

In some cases, where rooms were exposed to constant humidity, a plaster

layer, which included ash and lime, was used - either instead of or below
the regular lime-based plaster. In any event, ash lime plaster - “hydraulic
plaster” - was employed in all of the water installations such as cisterns,
water channels, pools and bathtubs.

The quality of the plaster-work in Masada was high. The plaster was
generally laid in layers and the outer surface was straight and smooth.

Walls built with dressed stones (ashlars)

This building technique is rather rare at Masada and was virtually restricted
to the three terraces of the Northern Palace and the three columbarium
towers. The stones used in these structures consisted of two types:

33
 1. Soft limestone: some of which includes phosphates and many
fossils. This stone has generally gray-green color, sometimes with
some pink sections. This stone was the stone commonly used for
ashlars.

2. Sandstone: This type of stone was used mainly in those cases

where precision was required, such as for columns, architraves, or
central pillars in staircases.

Both types were brought to the mount, either from nearby quarries (mainly
the soft limestone) or from more distant localities, such as the surroundings
of Jericho (mainly sandstone). In the latter case boats were apparently
used to transport the stones most of the way on the Dead Sea.

In the majority of these walls the ashlars are very roughly hewn. Their
edges are not always straight and the joints were filled either with mortar or
small stones (in some of these walls, like in the upper terrace of the
Northern Palace, the quality of the stonework is much better).

These ashlars mostly lack the margins so common in Herodian masonry.

In contrast to the majority of Masada’s walls, the mortar in most of the

ashlar walls is lime based. However, it seems that all of these walls were
coated from the very outset with lime-based plaster. The employment of
ashlars in this case was functional rather than for architectural-aesthetic
purposes.

Generally, the ashlar walls are slightly thinner than the above-described
walls.

The use of ashlar technique in the three columbarium towers may have
been dictated by the need to carve (or build) small pigeonholes into the
inner faces of their walls. In these towers the outer face of the walls was
built of soft limestone and the inner face of sandstone. In the two square
towers the pigeonholes were created by leaving gaps between the stones,
whereas in the circular one they were carved into the completed walls.

A different technique was employed in the southeastern corner of the

Western Palace. Although ashlars were the main component here as well,
earth mortar was used to join them. Another difference was the use, in this
case, of small fieldstones between the ashlars, in order to level each
course.

34
 CHAPTER 16

Plan 73. Restored plan of Masada in early Herodian building phase.

 CHAPTER 16

Plan 74. Restored plan of Masada in main Herodian building phase.

 CHAPTER I6

Plan 75. Restored plan of Masada in late Herodian building phase.

Masada of the Zealots

The Zealots who settled on Masada (66 to 73 CE) probably numbered

about one thousand; this figure accords with both Josephus’s account and
an estimate based on the number of dwelling units exposed during the
excavations, These people occupied most of the buildings on the mountain,
particularly the casemate wall, the three small palaces and building no. 9.
These buildings were adapted to the Zealots needs: large rooms were
divided into smaller units, entrances were blocked and other opened and
temporary constructions were added on to those already existing.

Wide ranges of installations were uncovered in the residential rooms:

cooking stoves and baking ovens, small water basins, and storage
installations - all indicate a well-ordered and active daily existence.

All of the acropolis, on the other hand, remained in the public domain. The
Western Palace was not divided up between the Zealot families but
remained very much as it had been before.

l The Synagogue

The most important discovery among the buildings of Masada during the
Zealot period is a square structure, originally from the Herodian period,
integrated into the wall, that probably originally served as a stable and was
later turned into a synagogue. The main hall had now three rows of
benches along its walls, typical of early synagogues.

Further proof that the building served as a synagogue was the discovery of
the genizah (depository of worn-out books) under the floor of the back
room, in which some scroll fragments were found.

l Ritual Baths

Seven or eight ritual baths (Mikveh) were discovered on Masada, including

one relatively large, stepped immersion pool. This pool was installed within
a special structure south of the Western Palace, intended for different
purpose.

l a public hall

An elongated hall (no. 809) was built by the Zealots and attached to the
northwestern corner of the small palace, building no. 13, on the north. The
structure of the hall seems to attest to some public or semipublic function.

35
 /
’ I

Phn 35. Detailed plan of Synagogue of Masada (1042-1043), including sections and restored plans of two phases.
The surviving benches could seat some 30 to 40 persons, and the hall
could accommodate a considerably larger number, seated otherwise. It is
difficult to determine whether the place was used for study, prayer or some
other purpose. During the excavations the hall was nicknamed the bet
midrash (school or study house).

The Zealots had no particular regard for the architectural grandeur of

Masada, the product of Herod’s initiative and efforts. Columns and capitals
were torn down indiscriminately to be used as building material, and
formerly magnificent rooms were converted into workrooms and kitchens.
Nearly all the constructions added by the Zealots lack planning and style.

Building Techniques in the Zealot Period

Although most of the building activity in the Zealot period was of temporary
nature, some of the structures were built more solidly, demonstrating a high
standard of workmanship. Examples are the walls added in building 1042 -
1043 (the Synagogue), the construction of the Swimming Pool 625 and the
vaulted pool in square 506.

Basically there is no major difference in the building methods employed

during Herod’s reign and in the Zealot period.

The Roman remains

The Roman military ruins around Masada are considered the finest remains
of a Roman siege operation in the world.

l Military Camps and Siege Wall

Under Silva’s command, soldiers of the Tenth Legion constructed, under

very difficult topographical conditions, a perfect network to lay a siege to
the Zealot population. The network included eight fortified camps and a
siege wall about four kilometers long encircling the entire mountain.

l The Ramp

After that, the Roman soldiers turned their energies to constructing a

substantial siege ramp west to the mountain, the only spot that allowed for
such a plan. On top of the ramp was built a large high platform, and on top
of that was erected a tower from which the battering ram could be operated
against the wall.

36
When the ramp had nearly reached the summit, the Romans began
bombarding the besieged population with catapult stones - part of which
can still be seen on the mountain top.

The Zealots, in a last attempt to withstand the assault decided to construct

an inner wall to insure against the possibility of a battering ram breaching
the stone wall. For their inner wall, the Zealots chose a system of wooden
beams - which they dismantled from the roofs of most of the buildings on
the mountain and the casemate wall - and earthen fill. This dismantling of
the roofs is confirmed by evidence unearthed in the excavations. The
Romans finally succeeded in setting this wall on fire, forcing the Zealots to
take final stock of their situation and ultimately to decide on mass suicide.
A massive destruction of Masada was the result of an earthquake,
apparently in one of the first centuries CE.

Building Techniques

The Roman camps haven’t been dug (except of probes). The Roman
remains are in fine state of preservation, due partly to the dryness of the
desert but also to their remoteness from centers of settlement.

The size and the locations of the Roman camps were fixed in accordance
with their tasks. There were 2 large camps and 6 small ones. The large
ones are B in the east and F (Silva’s headquarters) in the west. Both were
outside the siege wall (circumvallation), which lay between them and
Masada. Camp B (135x170 m) and camp F (125x150 m) are very similar in
size and plan to the classic camp of the Roman legions.

In the northwestern corner of camp F was a smaller camp (F2),

strengthened by towers. In the course of its construction, parts of the large
camp F were destroyed, which indicates ctearly that it was built at a-later
date. A small dig that was carried out there proved that the smaller camp
was used by the Roman garrison which was left there immediately after
Masada fell.

The most striking feature in all the camps were the hundreds of “mess-unit”
(contubernia), each accommodating 8 - 9 soldiers. They were bases for
tents, and what has remained of these “mess-units” and may be seen on
the site today are low walls of rubble stone, about 1 - 1.5 m high. These
served as an upright foundation over which the tent was spread.

With building the siege-wall, which was erected after the construction of the
camps, Silva completed the first stage of his plan.

37
A ramp was built as an assault embankment on the western slope of
Masada. The ramp was built of white soil and timber beams.

Bvzantine Masada

During the fifth century, a small group of monks lived on Masada. This
religious settlement was part of a process that was occurring all over the
Judean Desert and other deserts of the region throughout the Byzantine
period. The settlement was probably abandoned with the Persian or
Moslem conquest in the seventh century.

Afterwards, Masada remained abandoned and forgotten until its

rediscovery in the nineteenth century.

l The Byzantine Church

The church stands at the center of the summit. Its walls have survived to
relatively great height. Parts of the nave and possibly also of the narthex
were excavated in the 19th century by de Saulcy, who carried off parts of
the mosaic floor he found here to the Louvre in Paris. The building consists
of four rooms, with a courtyard adjoining it on the north and east.

The church was built of dolomite stones, laid in courses, with much use of
partly dressed masonry taken from the ruins of the Herodian buildings. The
walls, 95 cm thick, were cemented together by lime mortar.

In the narthex is preserved part of white, unpatterned mosaic floor and on

the walls survived many patches of the original plaster - white lime with
considerable admixture of gravel in which were set sherds and small flat
stones, arranged in vertical rows or herringbone pattern.

The nave consists of rectangular hall with semicircular apse at its eastern
end. The apse, unlike the other walls of the church was built of ashlars of
greenish-color, laid in courses. The original mosaic floor, of which only few
fragments had been preserved in situ, had a colored design. The nave was
originally illuminated by several windows and its walls were covered with
plaster, bearing patterns similar to those of the narthex walls.

Room 384 - The room had a decorated mosaic floor, with a largely
preserved central panel. The wall plaster was decorated with potsherds and
stones.

38
I
*-
I
f , +
I
I
+
No definitive data are available concerning the finish of the outer walls of
the church. There are several well preserved vertical water drainage, made
of lime plaster, obviously intended to direct the rainwater draining from the
roof.

l Other Byzantine Remains

The monks on Masada dwelt in small cells and caves scattered over the
summit. They built also modest additions to existing buildings and used it
for dwelling.

Few installations survived from this period, like a lime kiln or agricultural
structure.

A courtyard (square 1014) in front of a group of Byzantine structures that

were built and combined with the casemate wall (loci 1031 to 1023) is
another evidence to the Byzantine communal life. One of the loci (locus
1023) was almost certainly built as a kitchen according to the three cells
that probably served as ovens and a silo.

3.b. History of Development

Masada in Antiquity

The three periods evident in the archaeological remains at Masada, are:

Herodian, Zealots, Roman and Byzantine. The three settlement periods
are, relatively, short in time and are not subsequent.

The Hasmonean Masada - Flavius mentioned Masada as one of the

Hasmoneans’ desert fortresses. Hasmonean remains were not yet found in
the archaeological excavations at Masada. It may be assumed that if there
were any, the later Herodian massive construction works removed the
Hasmonean remains. It is thought that the water cisterns on the summit,
which are the earlier ones in Masada, are Hasmonean, according the
special pool-plaster they have.

The remains evident in Masada, are:

l Herodian - The massive building works in Masada (3 phases) 37 to 4

BCE.

39
 l Jewish Rebbels - Mainly poor additions to the Herodian buildings,
generally without caring about the fancy Herodian remains
underneath 66 to 73 CE.
l Roman military remains - camps, siege wall and a ramp - about 72
CE.
0 Byzantine community - Using existing buildings, few modest
additions, the most outstanding - the church - 5th - 6th centuries
CE.

Major changes, demolitions or rebuildings in Masada, except of the poor

additions to the Herodian buildings made by the Zealots and the Byzantine
monks, are:

The sequence of events at the end of the Roman siege was as follows:

l Destruction, by the Zealots, of most of the ceilings in order to build a

wood and earth wall (after the Romans succeeded to make a breach
in the original wall).
l Burning of household items (by the Zealots) during the last night.
l A deliberate fire, set during the last night by the Zealots.

The rest of destruction was caused by:

l Treasure-hunting by the Romans.

l The great earthquake which destroyed most the walls of Masada
sometime during the second to fourth century AD.
l The activity of the small Byzantine community.

Masada in the Modern Era

The Research of Masada

Today Masada is excavated and is widely known. But, it has taken more
than 160 years to reveal Masada’s secrets, beginning with two travelers,
who while looking from distance at the rock, first identified it, in 1838, as the
historical Masada. The two were Edward Robinson, an American scholar,
and his companion E. Smith.

Other explorers visited Masada during the second half of the 19th century
and the 20th century, each of them contributed some more information to
the research of Masada. Among the first explorations of Masada, it
deserve to mention:

40
A turning point in Masada’s research came with the “Survey of Western
Palestine” carried out on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund and
headed by Kitchener, Warren and Conder. Warren was the one to discover
the Snake Path and the first to climb Masada - in 1867 - from the east.

On the mapping of Masada, the turning point was brought about by Conder
on behalf of the Survey in 1875. Conder admired the accuracy of Flavius’s
descriptions.

The study of the Roman camps advanced greatly after Christopher Hawkes
of the British Museum published (in Antiquity, 1929) a thorough study
based on air photographs taken by the RAF in 1924 and 1928.

A detailed list of these pioneers, as the late Prof. Yadin named them, is
available in Yadin’s book “Masada - Herod’s fortress and the Zealots’ last
stand”, in chapter 19 “The Pioneers”.

Masada in the Zionist Ethos

The story of Masada - the suicide of the Jewish Zealots who preferred to
die as free people and not live as slaves in Rome - which is called the myth
of Masada - affected the Jewish pioneers in the years before the founding
of the state of Israel, in 1948.

The call of the Jewish refugee in the poem written by Lamdan in the early
1920s “Open your gates, Masada, and I, the refugee will enter”, became
the cry of the Jewish pioneers for freedom. For them, only the land of Israel
is the real refuge, which was forged out of agony. Lamdan coined the
famous phrase “Masada won’t fall again”.

The most significant example expressing the identification with the myth of
Masada was during World-War 2, when Romell’s troops threatened from
Egypt in the south and the pro Nazi Vichy regime threatened from Lebanon
in the north. The Jews in Israel felt sieged like the Zealots in Masada:
struggling for liberation and ready to sacrifice their lives for it.

Masada - 1965 - 1995

In the first years after the establishment of the state of Israel, Masada was
still like a lodestone for Israelis, who continued the tradition of climbing up
to Masada, bearing in mind the symbolism of the site. It was only natural to

41
excavate the site. The extensive excavations at Masada were conducted
by the late Prof. Yigael Yadin in the years 1963 - 65.

It was preceded by a limited archaeological survey carried out between

1955 and 1956 and was sponsored by the Israel Exploration Society, the
Hebrew University and the Department of Antiquities.

Prof. Yadin’s excavation was the largest and most challenging

archaeological project ever carried out in Israel; It became possible due to
the special personality of Yadin, who made an old dream he had, come
true. It was a complicated campaign from all aspects in the conditions of
those days. The Israeli army helped a lot. Yadin inspired thousands of
volunteers from many countries, who dug in difficult conditions with a lot of
enthusiasm. Yadin’s expedition revealed spectacular remains and most
interesting finds.

As a matter of fact, the first management decisions regarding Masada took

place following the ending of the archaeological excavations carried out by
the late Prof. Yadin expedition. (We leave apart the decisions regarding the
excavations).

Towards ending the excavation, it was decided by the “Department for

Landscaping and the Preservation of Historical Sites”, which belonged to
the Prime Minister’s Office, to open the site to the public as a national park.

Consequently, immediately after ending the excavations, works of

conservation and reconstruction started.

First conservation and reconstruction works

Shortly after completing the excavations, in 1965, the site underwent

conservation, reconstruction and development works. The works were done
according to a plan made by a special committee of experts in related
fields.

As late Prof. Yadin wrote in his book (“Masada - Herod’s fortress and the
Zealots’ last stand”) - “The tremendous work of restoration and
presentation was done by the Department for Landscaping and the
Preservation of Historical Sites and the National Parks Authority.... The
reconstruction as a whole was executed in accordance with the
recommendations of a special committee whose members were
archaeologists, architects / surveyors or autodidacts focusing on the
research of Masada.

42
Some technical details: The conservation and reconstruction works were
made according to the best knowledge existed in those days (1966). It is
important to note that the first stage of these works started even during the
excavations and were combined with it, as in cases of anastilosys or places
where it was obvious how the building or the wall looked like originally.
Another consideration was to avoid of throwing away the fallen stones and
later on collect it again for the reconstruction, but to use the stones in the
spot, immediately. This, in order not to do double work in the difficult
conditions of Masada.

First aid was given to delicate elements as frescoes, stucco and mosaics.

The use of Portland cement for mortar was prevailing, as an

implementation of the most advanced knowledge then. Professional
conservators from abroad were employed, side by side with local skillful
people.

A young architect, the surveyor of the excavations, was in charge of the

reconstruction works. There was a lot of good will then and dull knowledge
in comparison to today.

The decision of marking the reconstruction by a black line, separating

between the original wall and the reconstructed one, was adopted in those
days.

Masada is declared as national park

In the early 1960’s the planning process of preparing Masada as a national

park began. The park area included 2300 dunams, within its boundaries
were: the mountain, the Roman siege system and the close vicinity.
The first to deal with it was the P.M. office by the “Department of
Landscaping and the Preservation of Historical Sites” and later on the site
was “deposited” to the care of the National Parks Authority (NPA), that was
founded by low in 1963.

In 1966 Masada was declared, by the Minister of Interior Affairs as a

national park. In that year the Masada national park was opened to the
public. The big extent of the archaeological excavations, the big quantity of
the finds and the publicity given to ‘the site’s finds by the media, attracted
many visitors to Masada, especially walkers who climbed up through the
Snake Path.

43
 In 1967 the park’s area enlarged to 3400 dunams and it included a part of
the Arad - Masada road, in the west part of the park.

Since 1967 there was an increase in tourism to Israel. The Jerusalem -

Dead Sea road that was built in those days, made the accessibility to the
site shorter and easier. The Hollywood production of the movie “Masada”
that was screened in those days contributed worldwide publicity to the site.
People from all over the world wanted to see the scene of the original
events.

Masada became an important tourism site and the number of visitors

increased gradually.

The cablecar

It was clear that something must be done in order to make it easier for
visitors to get up to the mountain top. Some NPA officials thought that a
cablecar is the preferred means to get up.

This idea had a great objection. The objection was expressed on the value
background: the wish to leave the site of Masada as is - an isolated cliff -
mountain in its natural wild desert landscape.

People of the National Parks Authority (NPA), which were in charge of the
site, were arguing about this issue among themselves. Finally, when the
decision to install a cablecar on the mountain slope was accepted in the
NPA, a new “frontier” was opened - with the Nature Reserves Authority and
other “Green” supporters and the public. There were people who said that
they will not let the construction works be implemented and they will block it
by their bodies.
-
In a conference to present Masada project to the public (April 1995) Israel
Gil’ad, then director general of NPA, related to the cablecar issue as
follows:

It’s true that the development of Masada site derives partly from the myth
and the movie, but a great deal of it must be attributed to a practical
decision, a decision of policy. This decision - of building a cablecar in
Masada - is a common decision to practical people - Mr. Yannai and the
directors’ board of NPA and a scholar, Prof. Yadin. It was not a scientific
decision and it had nothing to do with the myth; It was a pure practical
decision, which was preceded by many debates and discussions.

44
The cablecar began operating in 1972, and since then was recorded a
much bigger increase of visits to the site.

During the years, the staff of the site kept on maintaining the site according
to the current needs.

1995 - 2000 - The Masada project

Background

A major management decision was taken, in the first 1980’s, to upgrade the
site’s facilities in order to adapt it to the needs of the increasing numbers of
visitors and to improve the visit’s experience towards the 21st century.

Masada National Park was developed in the 1960s according to criteria and
tourism movement increase forecasts of those days. The increase in the
numbers of visitors to Masada has exceeded all expectations. According to
estimates of tourism economists’ 1.25 million visitors are expected to visit
the site in the year 2010, compared to 700,000 currently.

In the course of the years, the different infrastructures of the site were worn
out and it couldn’t function effectively anymore as a major tourist site
adapted to modern tourism needs. The most crucial problem was the
waiting lines to the cablecar, which in the peak hours people were waiting
up to two hours in the unbearable heat.

The NPA got to the conclusion that the waiting lines must be canceled and
that the site must be developed and be adapted to accommodate the influx
of visitors and the needs of modern tourism.

The NPA, together with the Israeli government through the Ministry of
Tourism, reached a decision for the need of development of Masada and
the outcome is the Masada Project. The project is financed mainly by the
government, with the hope of help from private funding too. Most of the
funding was allocated for the modern construction. Yet, assistance and
support are still required for carrying out the physical planning of the
mountain top.

Before describing the project, it must be mentioned that two other plans
were prepared in order to improve the visitors’ circulation in the site.
Architect Eldar Sharon prepared one plan. The other plan was prepared by

45
an American company (ITEC). Both plans were not meeting all the needs
of the site.

Masada project

Overall planning of the project is based on a survey carried out among

visitors to Masada, as well as specific research on general trends and
characteristics of foreign tourism to Israel. The combined data pointed to
the need for improvement both in the site’s general tourist services and
facilities and of its presentation to the public.

Several objectives have been defined for the development project:

l To foster and emphasize the values associated with the site as well
as its historical and cultural significance. Much of it is done by
conservation and restoration works.

l To enhance and enrich the visitors’ experience through the emphasis

on cultural and historical values of the site.

l To cope with the site’s capability to handle so many visitors - 1.25

million visitors expected in the year 2010. The admittance capacity of
the site is a problem common to the mountain foot as well as to the
top with its “bottle necks”.

l To improve the visitors services and facilities and especially create

fluent flow of the visitors.

Value decisions were defined along with the project objectives, with the
approach of leaving the appearance of the ancient remains as is.
Among those decisions:

l Not to locate modern construction on the top or within the Roman

siege boundaries, and to hide, as possible, the new construction of
being seen from the mountain. (It doesn’t include, unfortunately,
elements regarded essential, like the cablecar station, the cliff bridge
or light pergolas).

l Not to let any commercial activity on the top.

A master plan made for the development program included a few planning
components, among them: the eastern entrance complex, new cablecar,

46
landscape rehabilitation, archaeological excavations, and conservation and
development of the mountain top.

For the long range there are long term programs related to the
development of the western entrance complex, development of tracks on
the mountain’s slopes and night activity in Masada.

The first development program is a six year program (I 995 - 2000) its cost
is over 40 million dollars, and it includes:

1. A new cable car in order to cancel the waiting lines - the new cable car,
which began operating since May 1999, has double capacity compared to
the former one (80 people in a car).

From the upper station people are walking through the “cliff bridqe” to the
Snake Path Gate, the historical gate to Masada. The bridge enabled, for
the first time, disabled people, including people in wheelchairs, to get to the
mountain top.

The NPA held a public hearing in order to ask the public and Professionals
what they think is the best way to enter the mountain top from the
cablecar’s upper station: by a bridge or by tunnel. The public, similarly to.
the planners, divided to two, more or less, even camps. The NPA took,
finally, a decision of building a bridge, because it is reversible and it
enables the walkers to see the landscape and enter Masada through its
historical gate, the Snake Path Gate.

2. Modern entrance complex in the east side (Dead Sea side) with all the
services needed for visitors, and it includes also concept design elements,
as: a model of Masada and its environment, authentic finds display,
photographs of Yadin’s excavation expedition and a pre - show, telling the
story of Masada.his complex is expected to be completed in September
2000.

3. Mountain top development - The mountain top is the location of the

ancient remains, the scene of the historical events and the primary reason
for visiting the place. The leading principle in the treatment of the mountain
top is not to change the original array of the place and leave it as it was first
found. This means: not to add buildings and not to allow any commercial
activity there. The necessary additions are installed in a way that they are
hidden within the antiquities.

47
The mountain top is the core of the visit to Masada, with its architectural
and archaeological remains (together with the Roman siege system at its
foot). its development is adapted to groups who come with a guide (about
80% of the visitors) and to individuals.

In the first years of the project the efforts were focused in conservation and
a bit of reconstruction. This was “pure” conservation and it enabled to gain
time for the planning of the presentation. Simultaneously, a concept
designs team worked on the way of presenting and interpreting the story of
Masada to the public. It yielded the concept of an “open air museum” where
the ancient monuments are “talking for themselves”.

To materialize this concept - a visitors’ track was planned, going among the
conserved buildings, mostly in the northern part of the top. The buildings
tell the historical story and emphasize the strong contrast between Herod’s
luxurious palaces and the Zealots miserable dwellings. Along the track
there are explanation signs, models and theme centers to explain the site.

Needless to say that in addition to the thematic explanation works,

development works are performed for the convenience of the public; among
them - paths, handrails, drinking water and shade facilities, restrooms - all
adapted for disabled people too. The different elements are built with a lot
of care to the general look of the site and all are reversible (all the elements
are being put on the surface).

The approved planning decisions are implemented partly by the site

development and conservation team and partly by external contractors.
The Masada conservation team, was trained especially according to the
project administration decision before the beginning of the works by the
Israel Antiquities Authority. These people became real experts of the
conservation problems typical to Masada and enjoy the appreciation of all
professionals in this field.
Yet another decision was to make a conservation survey in the beginning of
the project in order to identify the critical needs. The conservators worked
according to a master plan that combined the critical conservation needs
with the main tourist plan aims.

The implementation of the mountain top plans is expected to end during the
year 2001. A five-year continuance programme for the mountain top is
prepared in these days according to the approved master-plan.
3x. Form and Date of Most Recent Records of Site

The most recent records of Masada are consisting of several subjects, as

follows:

Archaeology:

l Final reports of the excavations in Masada, carried out in 1963 -

1965. Until now six volumes have been published.
l Reports of the excavations in Masada, carried out in 1989 and 1995.

Conservation:

Conservation carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority, 1995.

Conservation master-plan, prepared by NPA staff, 1995 - 1996.
Conservation detailed documentation, plans and manuals, prepared
by the Masada development and conservation team (on going plans -
regarding different techniques, buildings and complexes).
0 Building no. IX - survey and research - architect Tal Huberman, NPA,
1997
l Western Palace - Conservation of mosaic floors, finall report of
intervention - 1994, Roberto Nardi, CCA, Roma.
l Conservation of the Bath-House, final report, 1996, Roberto Nardi,
CCA, Roma.
l Restoration of mural paintings detached from Lishcat Hamefaked,
Technical Report, 1999, Roberto Nardi, CCA, Roma.
l A conservation plan for the Northern Palace, Prof. John Ashurst,
Resurgam Conservation Consultancy, 1997 + Part 2 and summary of
pilot work, 1998.
l Proposals for emergency stabilisation works, the Northern Palace,
Prof. John Ashurst, Resurgam, 1998.
l Proposals for the presentation and conservation of the Northern
Palace, Prof. John Ashurst, Resurgam, 1999.

Others:

l Masada development project - master-plan book, Tik Projects, 1996.

l Mountain top concept design master plan book, Masada project
team, 1996.
l Various development (architectural) elements performing plans,
Masada landscape architect, ongoing, since 1995.
l Many popular (tourist) books.

49
3.d. Present state of conservation

Today there is a lot of awareness and concern of the state of conservation

in Masada - the ancient remains, as well as, the rock of the mountain of
Masada.

As mentioned already, in the 1960’s, along with ending the archaeological

excavations, and immediately after completing them, conservation and
reconstruction works were carried out in order to preserve the remains just
unearthed and as a part of preparation works of opening the site to the
public.
Since then and until the beginning of Masada project, in 1995, conserving
maintenance kept going on.

Within the framework of Masada project the conservation has been

specially emphasized:

A site-conservation team established and was trained by the experts of the

Israel Antiquities Authority. The team is operated by conservation-planning
architects and is carrying out conservation in all levels and reconstruction
works.

The conservation and reconstruction are an integral, considerably big, part

of the master-plan and of the detailed working plans of the mountain top
project.
Critical conservation problems are immediately being taken care of.

Conservation experts from all over the world are asked to treat the delicate
or problematic issues in Masada. They worked in the Large Bath-house,
the Northern Palace, the mosaics of the Western Palace and Lishcat
Hamefaked. A bid for proposals of conserving the Villa 8 (the Commander’s
Residence) was published in last August and sent to experts outside Israel,
to be carry out soon.

The stability of the rock of Masada was checked by geologists and rock
engineers and was strengthened in few places (especially in the vicinity of
the cablecar upper station and the cliff bridge).

After falling of part the rock under the foundations of the synagogue (which
is combined in the casemate wall in its westnorthern part), due to the
sewage liquids flowed there, the sewage system was replaced to a new
one. The new system drains the liquids by a pipe to a purifying sewage

50
installation at the western foot of the mountain. The damaged rock was, of
course, repaired.

A survey of the stability of the upper terrace rock in the Northern Palace is
currently being prepared, with the request for implementing
recommendations.

In the course of the last five years of Masada project, most of the buildings
in the Northern Area have been treated. Among them, are:

The Snake Path Gate, Villa 8, Lishcat Hamefeked, Storerooms complex,

the Large Bath-house, the Monumental Steps, the Synagogue, the
Byzantine Church, parts of the lower and upper terraces of the Northern
Palace, the Water Gate, parts of the casemate wall, the drainage system
and delicate elements, especially plaster, mosaic floors and frescoes all
over the top. There is still a lot to do.

The next in priority to be treated, are:

The lower and middle terraces of the Northern Palace, the Western Palace,
the breaching point (and other parts of the casemate wall), delicate
elements, all the buildings in the Southern Area, the Roman camps and the
siege-wall, the cisterns and paths in the slopes of the mountain, the area
between the Water Gate to room 1049 (the northwestern corner of the
casemate wall), rehabilitation of the area in several places, including near
the Roman camps in the east, after removing the structures of the old
entrance complex to the site.

3.e. Policies and programmes related to presentation and

promotion of the property

Presentation

In Masada, there are two main complexes of presentation:

a. Eastern entrance complex (a kind of visitors’ center).

b. The mountain of Masada.

The different presentations are implemented within the framework of the

development project done in Masada national park (1995 - 2000) by the
Nature and Parks Authority with governmental financing.

51
Eastern entrance complex

The entrance complex includes the services needed for visitors as well as
presentation elements. The presentation elements, are: a model of Masada
and its environment, authentic finds display, photographs of Yadin’s
excavation expedition and a pre-show movie, telling the story of Masada.
This complex is expected to be completed in September 2000.
In a later phase, a museum - to exhibit the archaeological finds of Masada -
will be added (the space for it is already existing).
The way up to the mountain

A new cablecar, built in order to cancel the waiting lines in the unbearable
heat of Masada began operating since May 1999.
During the three minutes of traveling (each direction) the marvelous
landscape and part of the Roman camps are easily being seen from the
ca blecar.

From the upper station the visitors are walking through the “cliff bridge” to
the Snake Path Gate, the historical gate to enter Masada. The bridge
enabled, for the first time, disabled people, including people in wheelchairs,
to get to the mountain top.

The bridge was built with a “transparent” handrail in order to enable the
visitors, including people sitting in wheelchairs, to see the exciting
landscape of the Judean Desert and Dead Sea.

The mountain of Masada

The mountain top is the location of the ancient remains, the scene of the
historical events and the primary reason for visiting the place. It is the core
of the visit to Masada, with- its architectural and archaeological remains
together with the water cisterns and paths on its slopes and the Roman
siege system at its foot, easily watched from the top.

A concept design team worked - in the framework of the developing project

- on the way of presenting and interpreting the story of Masada to the
public. It yielded the concept of an “open air museum”, where the ancient
monuments are “talking for themselves”.

To materialize this concept - a visitors’ track was planned, going among the
conserved buildings, mostly in the northern part of the top. The buildings

52
tell the historical story and emphasize the strong contrast between Herod’s
luxurious palaces and the Zealots miserable dwellings.

Along the track there are explanation signs and models (and in planning -
theme centers) to explain the site. The new presentation means are made
of high quality materials, as an open air museum deserves.

The visit in the mountain top is followed by a brochure, free of charge, with
the relevant explanations. A new brochure, which will include the new
concept of presenting the story of Masada, is under work right now.

Audio svstem (Easy Guide) with explanations of the monuments on the

mountain top is available at the mountain top for a low charge. Needless to
say that in addition to the thematic explanation works, development
elements, like paths, handrails, drinking water and shade facilities and
restrooms, were added for the convenience to the public - all adapted for
disabled people too.

The different elements are built with a lot of care to the general look of the
site and all are reversible. The leading principle is not to change the original
array of the place.

Masada sound and liaht show

The show is performed at the foot of Masada mountain in its west side, and
can be reached via Arad - Masada road. The show depicts the history of
Masada during the 1st century AD, from the construction of Herod’s palace
to the prolonged siege and the Roman conquest.

The spectators sit in an open-air theater, facing the Roman ramp. The
show is presented in Hebrew, and headphones for simultaneous translation
-
are available in English, German, French, Russian and Spanish.

For the long run there are long term programs related to the development
of the western entrance complex (which is planned to serve as a didactic
educational center) and the development of tracks in the mountain’s slopes.

Promotion

Among the means to promote the site, are:

l Periodical advertising in the Israeli and foreign media regarding

various activities done in Masada.

53
l Permanent advertising to tourist / travel agencies - in Israel and
abroad.

l Selling printed material regarding Masada in the Israeli national parks

and in shops and information centers. (In addition to the brochures
given without charge).

l Holding conferences / public hearings from time to time.

54
MANAGEMENT:

4.a. Ownership

The lands of the proposed site and buffers are owned by the State of Israel.

4.b. Legal status

The proposed site is a national park (Masada National Park) according to

the “National Parks, Nature Reserves, Memorial Sites and National Sites
Law, 1998”. And is also protected under the “Antiquities Law, 1978”.

4.~. Protective measures and means for implementing

them

The site operates as a national park and as an antiquity site according to

the laws. In that respect, no change or development that can change the
purpose of the site are aloud. The proposed site is surrounded by a large
buffer area, the Judean Desert Nature Reserve, that is protected by the
same law of 1998, and an open area belt between the site and the Dead
Sea, protected as an open and agriculture land in a local masterplan
approved under the Planning and Building Law of 1965. Therefore, full
protection is granted to the site and its surroundings.

The headquarters of the Authority (NPA) holds planning committees which

ratify and supervises the implementation of the development plans.
Independent experts are invited to these committees. The Authority holds
public hearings to issues of outstanding national and international interest.
The Antiquities Authority holds an independent, academic, conservation
committee who checks and discusses conservation and reconstruction
plans proposed by the site or project members.

4.d. Agency with management authority

Under the National Parks Law, the Nature and Parks Protection Authority is
the legal corporation that is responsible for the management of national
parks and nature reserves, as well as for declaration and law enforcement.

The proposed site is therefore fully managed by the Authority according to

the law, and so most of the buffer. The belt of agriculture and open land in
the buffer is under the responsibility of the regional council.

55
4.e. Level at which management is exercised

Management is exercised from the lowest level possible. The staff running
the national park is part of the authority and under its management. The
name of the Director of Masada National Park is Mr. Albert Tubul,
telephone number: 972 - 7- 6584117 or 972 - 7 - 6584374, fax no.:972 -
7-6584464.

The nature reserves and buffers surrounding the historical site of Masada
are patrolled regularly by regional nature reserves and open areas rangers.
The eastern belt surrounding Masada is patrolled from En Gedi oasis, 20
kilometers to the north.

The western belt surrounding Masada is patrolled from the town of Arad, 25
kilometers to the west. The site and the surrounding reserves are under
supervision of the south district of the Authority.

All development plans and programs, as well as policy issues, are

discussed and approved by the Authority headquarters in Jerusalem.

4.f. Agreed plans related to property (e.g., regional, local

plan, conservation plan, tourism development plan)

There are a number of specific plans and declarations that pertain

specifically to the site and surrounding reserves:

The declaration of Masada National Park:

Number: D/483
Date: 10 February 1966

The approval of the Judean Desert Nature Reserve:

Number: 100/02/l 0
Date: 21 July 1983

Regional Master plan according to the Building and Planning law of 1965:
Number: TMM 4-14
Date: 30 March 1999

4.9. Sources and levels of finance

Financing for the major part is allocated by the Nature and Park Authority in
order to cover the general and routine maintenance and continued
operation costs. Over the last five years the Ministry of Tourism has

56
 contributed considerably to enhancing the visitor facilities, infrastructure
and partial restoration and preservation of selected monuments on the
mountain. However, this fund has been exhausted and an attempt to locate
alternative financing is underway in order to continue the conservation and
preservation of existing archaeological remains.

4.h. Sources of experties and training in conservation

and Management techniques

Training of Masada National Park Staff

Managers of the Site:

l Site manager course: Encompasses all as parts of site management

including archaeology, history, geology and nature, Beit Berl institute,
700 hours during 3 year period.
l Advertisement and Marketing course by the Ministries of Tourism and
Labour - 1 day a week - l-year period.

Staff of the Site:

l Training sessions by outside experts and institutes to all staff

according to their roles: general maintenance, cable-car operation and
maintenance, visitors service control and behavior, marketing and
tourism support, sound and light show operation and maintenance.
l A year-round - l-3 days symposium on varying subjects: tourism,
archaeology, history, nature and geology, work and public safety.

Conservators staff of the Site:

. 1995 - Full conservation course during 6 months by Ministry of.

Labour and Antiquities Authority.
l A year-round training in specific conservation skills by local and
foreign experts.

4.i. Visitor facilities and statistics

The Visitor facilities available in Masada national park, are:

l A cable car enabling the visitors to reach the mountain top, including
the necessary arrangements to facilitate disabled people.

57
 l A visitors center, is near its completion, on the eastern entrance
complex with parking places, resteooms, food and beverage services,
information etc. for a yearly visitation of 650,000 people from the
eastern side. At the place are presentation means, like a model of
Masada and its surroundings, finds display and a pre-show movie.

l Parking facilities: underground parking for 140 vehicles under 2.40

meter height. Aboveground parking for 80 tour buses and a over flow
of private vehicles.

l A sound and light show, on the western side, is given at night. This
has been proved as a very capable educational tool for school
children and has been operated on a permanent basis for 12 years.
Yearly visitation of 60,000 people. Simultaneous translation with
earphones is available in the seven languages for the sound and light
show.

l A vouth hostel is located on the eastern side with accommodations

for 7 IO people.

l A camp site is available on the western side, able to accommodate

250-300 campers.

l An audio quide system is available for individuals not accompanied

by a professional guide.

l A brochure free of charge is available in seven languages.

4.j. Site management plan and statement of objectives

Since the unification of the Nature Reserves Authority with the National
Parks Authority in 1998, an outline of a management plan for heritage sites,
which are surrounded by nature reserves, was formulated with the aid of
the Getty Conservation Institute. As a result of the 1998 unification and with
the near completion of the large-scale development project at Masada
National Park, an updated management plan is being written. The
guidelines of the new management plan for Masada are, as follows:

Unified Management Plan for Masada National Park - zooo.

1. Background information of Masada:

58
1 .I Geographical location and size of site: coordinates, type of terrain,
legal area of site.
1.2 History of Masada
History of living layers, re-use, destruction, abandonment.
Function type of site.
Change of function during settlemet periods.
- History of present state of excavations.
1.3 Topography, climate, geology, biology.
- Surrounding geology.
- Location of site and surrounding topography.
- General climate of the area.
- Rainfall, water-flow, water table.
1.4 General building construction of antiquities on-site.
- Materials, type, origin and quality.
- Techniques of building.
- Architectural details: structures, styles, ornamentation.
- Quality of materials: stockpiles for re-use.
1.5 Details of building construction antiquities.
- Composition of materials.
- Type of surfaces and finishes.
- Laboratory analysis.

2. Assessments significance condition management.

2.1 Significant assessment.
2.2 Heritage and natural values of Masada.
- Site in regard to historical periods and records.
- Site and surrounding vegetation, wildlife and landscape.

3. Condition assessment of Masada:

3.1 Present state of Masada.
3.2 State of conservation:
- State of materials
- Types of decay (superficial, in depth, constructive),
- Causes of decay.
- Missing parts.
- Previous interventions.
- Risks: should interventions not occur.

4. Management assessment of Masada:

4.1 Statutory status of Masada.
- Date and stages of declaration.
- Present and projected status.
- Relevant detail.

59
4.2 Surrounding buffer zones.
- Type, date and state of decleration.
- Present and projected status.
- Legal protection.
- Relevant details.
4.3 Projected general state of Masada.
4.4 Ecosystem between heritage, nature and landscape - research of
experts.
4.5 Influence of development and visitors on ecosystem of site.
4.6 Possible interaction and functions of regional inhabitants.
- Roads and paths.
- Grazing, agriculture, forest, water sources.
- Quarry, military, scientific survey and research.
4.7 Connections to surrounding region.
- Nearby towns and villages.
- Other archaeological parks and nature reserves.
- Tourist facilities and attractions.
4.8 Economic and social potential.
- Regional development plans.
- Tourist and vacation uses.
- Education uses.
- Statutory up-dates.

5. Conservation and management policy of Masada:

5.1 Projection of structure and function of the site in accord with
development plans and national policies.

6. Strategies for conservation and management at Masada.

6.1 Need of conservation.
- Emergency actions.
Documentation (present state, past photos, records, maps).
- biological control.
- Consolidation, surface treatments, protection cleaning.
- Addition of missing parts.
- Covering of elements.
Dismantling and rebuilding.
- Justification of needed intervention.
Initial maintenance plan.
- General recommendations.
6.2 Projected architectural states.
- Search for old photos and written accounts.
- Water management.
- Archaeological excavations.

60
 Conservation works and maintenance.
Public movement on site.
Need for reconstruction for illustration.
6.3 Projected development of the site.
Fences and entry points.
Approaching paths, paths and tracks in park.
Change of parks borders.
Signs and information maps.
Self guided visiting tours.
Visitors center. Information stops.
Various facilities and installations.
Parking facilities.
Observation points.
Garbage containers and management.
Research, conservation, documentation and archive facilities.
Manpower: maintenance and visitor control.

7. Function of the management plan:

7.1 Inclusive program for Masada.
Funding sources.
Stages and timetables.
Potentials regarding goals,
Evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of programs.
Justification for selected plan and management.
Relevant surveys and researches.
Timetable for updating and re-evaluating all stages of inclusive
program.

8. Appendix
Statutory maps, surveys, old photos and documents, current maps.

4.k. Staffing levels (professional, technical, maintenance)

The site operates with the following personnel: director, deputy director,
sound and light manager, maintenance manager, preservation and
conservation manager.

A detailed list of the site’ s staff - tasks and numbers is, as follows:

Accounting - 2
Cablecar operation - 5
Cashiers - 4
Maintenance - 5

61
Sound and light - 3
Sanitation - 5
Security - 5
Preservation conservation - 15
Supervision - 3
First aid - 2
Secretary - 1

Statement of objectives for site management:

l To manage, report and document all aspects of Masada national

park and its heritage.
0 To preserve and protect all archaeological remains for present and
future generations.
l To maintain a safe and friendly atmosphere.
l To promote environmental awareness.
l To enhance guest experience and advanced educational
opportunities.

62
5. FACTORS AFFECTING THE SITE

!La+b. Development and environmental pressures:

Masada National Park is fairly isolated on the edge of the Judean Desert. It
is surrounded on the north, west and south sides by Nature Reserves
which serve to protect Masada against any industrial or commercial
initiative. On the eastern section of the buffer exists a stretch of coast that
is controlled by the Dead Sea Works.
This area of coast consists of a pumping station that transfers water from
the northern portion of the sea to the evaporation pools in the south. The
water channel is about 12 kms long. The pumping station is 4.5 kms from
the mountain and poses a relativly minor impact on the landscape.

A plan to construct a hotel and recreation area 11 kms. north on the coast
has been shelved due to environmentalists pressures. Much pressure has
been made to commercialize Masada in past years. The authority did not
give-in and made a strong policy against commercializing efforts. On
the mountain top there are no stores, food kiosks or picnic facilities.
Visitors are not allowed to stay over-night on the mountain top.

The new development project on the east side of Masada, soon to be

completed, encompasses all the souvenirs and foodstores, visitors’ center,
museum, parking and other facilities in one building which leads the visitor
via a pre-show to the cable-car station. The majority of the building is not
visible from the mountain-top.

The existing youth hostel will be removed close to a new place, close to the
main building. The buses stay in a distant parking lot and are summoned
by radio.

All of the existing buildings and facilities, including the old cabelcar station
will be dismantled and the land will be rehabilitated to its original, natural
state.
On the west side, the cargo cable-car which operated for more than 20
years over the Roman-siege-ramp and the breaching point, is being
removed further south. By this, an important part of the visible history of
Masada will soon be conserved and will be much clearer to understand by
the visitors.

63
5.~. Natural disasters and preparedness:

Masada is located on the western ledge of the Syrian-African Rift Valley, an

area prone to earthquakes. Growing concern lead to geological surveys
ordered by the Nature and Park Authority.These surveys showed clearly
that during earthquakes areas around the perimeter of the site and
especially the northern palace could be severely damaged.

The Nature and Park Authority initiated a project of rock anchoring on the
north eastern cliff and continued monitoring. The project has shown
excellent results in stabilizing this portion of the cliff.

The Authority intends to continue this procedu re on the northern palace as

soon as financing will become available.

5.d. Visitor/Tourism pressures:

The human carrying capacity at Masada has been researched and studied
as part of the pre-planning of the new development project. The results
have been implemented during the past 5 years. This was the first study of
its kind in Israel.
The carrying capacity at Masada can be measured by two criteria:

The physical capacity: the decay of the site.

l The amount of “fragile” antiquities on-site which are prone to damage
by visitors.
l The rate of deterioration of the delicate elements (decay index and
required maintenance).
l The number of visitors (maximum) which will create enough pressure
to disturb the delicate equilibrium - decay vs. maintenance.

The human capacity: the quality of the visit.

l Amount of visitors, today and future projection, which the site can
bear at one time.
l For example, if 2000 visitors still enjoy their visit to Masada, will the
visitor 2001 damage the quality of the visit by over-crowding, too
much noise, too-long waiting-lines.

The research includes:

l Detailed mapping of visitors movement and behavior on the
mountain-top.

64
 l Number of visitors in each complex, rooms of interest and bottle-neck
zones all in relation to general number of visitor to Masada.
l Interviewing of the visitors on peak visiting days as to crowding on
the mountain-top.
l Interviewing and questioning of tour guides on several of these
aspects.
l Attempt to understand the visitors’ expectation from Masada as
clients of the site and not a disturbance.

As mentioned, the results of this research led to many, important,

operational solutions, some cardinal and some minimal, some evident and
some hidden. The implementation of these solutions, brought upon more
thorough, legible, enjoyable, efficient, and safer visit.

The nature reserves surrounding the mountain’s vicinity are largely

unvisited. They are comprised of desert landscape without oases and
picnic facilities and nature highlights. Thus there is almost no damage done
to the desert scenery seen in a panoramic view from the mountain top.

5.e. Number of inhabitants within the site:

The nearest inhabitants to Masada Natural Park reside in En Gedi 18 kms.

to north, on the coast of the Dead Sea.

The town of Arad is located 22 kms. to west of Masada. Arad has a

population of 25,000 people.

A hotel complex is located in the En Bokek area, a distance of about 12

kms. to south, on the coast .of the Dead Sea.

On and around the site there are no permanent residents with the
exception of the manger of the youth hostel and his family.

65
6. MONITORING:

6.a. The Key indicators for Measuring the State of

Conservation at Masada National Park:

Number of people engaged in conservation works and site maintenance:

15 trained conservators aided by 20 unskilled workers are carrying out
conservation, reconstruction and development works according to
approved plans as part of the major conservation program on the mountain
top of Masada.

Number of davs in a year for each subject of conservation and

maintenance:
l The project is nearing the completion of its fifth and final year. When
the end of the project will be declared, only 5-7 conservators will
remain on regular basis on Masada. Work is conducted year- round.
l The work ratio for the past 5 years has been: 4,200-4,300 days per
year for conservation reconstruction and development. 200-300 days
per year for regular maintenance of delicate architectural remains.

The projected work ratio after the major project:

l 700-800 days per year - conservation of walls, plasters, floors,
general.
l 700-800 days per year - maintenance conservation.

Yearlv budget invested in conservation at Masada:

l In the past 5 years:
500,000 $US per year for salaries, materials + tools, planners and
experts.
l In the year 2001:
200,000 $US for 5-7 person crew for on going conservation and
maintenance program.
100,000 $US for finishing large-scale conservation projects started in
5 year program.
l After the year 2001:
200,000 $US per year for 5-7 persons to carry-on conservation and
maintenance program.

Efforts to raise additional private and public funds to continue and initiate
conservation works on the palaces, surrounding casemate wall and other
parts to be treated within the ancient remains.

66
Number of inspections of each complex bv professional conservator per
year:
l In the past 5 years a professional conservator is heading the
conservation project. 170-200 days per year.
l In the future - 50-75 days per year for inspecting conservation state
and directing delicate works.
l

Nature reseves surroundinq Masada:

l Weekly patrols by the regional nature and open areas ranger. An
average of 50-60 patrols of the reserves per year.

6.b. Administrative Arrangements for Monitoring:

All conservation works carried out at Masada since 1995 are directly
supervised by a senior conservator on-site and strictly comply with all
international standards and charters for conservation of sites.

Monitoring of all ruins on site is done on a regular basis by the conservation

team (inspection and cleaning) as detailed by an enclosed table. All finds
are recorded. Emergency situations are thus greatly reduced and if
appear, receive the highest priority of correct interventions.

All plans of interventions and final reports are coordinated with the
Antiquities Authority and copies of reports are stored in archives on and off
site.

6.~. Results of Previous Reporting Exercises.

From 1963-65 excavations until 1995:

There are the following reports:

Final report (6 volumes till now) of the excavations (Masada III by Prop.
Ehud Nezer - The buildings, stratigraphy and architecture - is in constant
use).
The questioning of all of the chief of development and conservation works
in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, including written reports of foreign experts and
the photograph archive of Masada at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
These sources revealed valuable information on the nature, location,
extent, technology and materials of all intervention made on the
maintenance during the years when conservation as a profession was
practiced only by foreign experts.

67
Since 1995, preventive measures and direct conservation were
documented and reported. This brought forth the recognition of the
Authority’s headquarters in the need of on-going maintenance. Previous
reports from before and after 1995 helped to form conservation
maintenance charts for each complex thus allowing a visual and numeric
follow-up to the conservation works. The use of maintenance charts due to
previous and on-going monitoring and reporting have formed a budgeted
maintenance program and not just a single, technical operation. Thus
conservation maintenance at Masada is part of the history of the site
offering another informational tool for the study, understanding and training
of and at Masada in present and future times.

68
I
‘.. .
7. DOCUMENTATION

7.a. Photographs, slides, film/video

Part of the above-mentioned materials is enclosed hereby.

7.b. Copies of property management plans and extracts of

other plans relevant to the property

The site’s management office has operation manual in accordance with the
standards of the Nature and Parks Authority for the site’s management (in
Hebrew).

Other different operation manuals are available for the various subjects
being taken care by the site’s management (like: the cablecar, the sewage
system, the sound and light show etc.) - most of which are in Hebrew.

The mountain top crew has manuals for the current maintenance of the
place, including conservation.

7.~. Bibliography

Hereby, enclosed a bibliography list regarding Masada.

7.d. Addresses where inventory records and archives are

held

l Material with regard to the archeological excavations - The Hebrew

University of Jerusalem, Institute of Archeology, Prof. Ehud Netzer.

l Development masterplans and plans for implementation - The

Nature and Parks Authority.

l Conservation programme and conserving plans - The development

and conservation team of the mountain top, Masada.

69
8. SIGNATURE ON BEHALF OF THE STATE PARTY

70
 The ruins of Masada reflect several stages in human history.
These include classical Roman architecture (palace, bath-
Masada (Israel) houses, store-rooms, water system, military installations),
humble Jewish domestic architecture (with a synagogue and
No 1040 ritual baths), and early Christian monasticism. The most
outstanding elements of these are the Roman siege works
around the mountain, the most complete in the world and
almost completely unexcavated, and the Northern Palace.
Criterion iv
The ruins and historical accounts of Masada are directly
associated with the most fundamental human values. Issues
Identification
decided at Masada – the few against the many, liberty versus
slavery, religious freedom versus oppression, life versus
Nomination Masada National Park
death – are subjects of universal moral and academic
discussion and will long continue to be so. Criterion vi
Location Tamar Region
Note This property is nominated as a mixed site.
State Party Israel

Date 30 June 2000 Category of property

In terms of the categories of cultural property set out in
Article 1 of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, this is a
site.

Justification by State Party

Masada is a cultural and natural heritage site with universal History and Description
importance. It is an isolated rock in a remote corner of the History
Judaean Desert, facing the Dead Sea and expressing the
special geology and nature of that area. Its archaeological The history of Masada is known principally from the work of
remains relate to three periods of human settlement on the Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian of the 1st century CE,
site which are chronologically separated and different in and from the excavations of 1963–65.
character. Each reflects on one hand certain uniqueness and
According to Josephus, the site was first fortified by the High
on the other a fabric of intertwined human cultural contexts
Priest Jonathan. There were two High Priests of this name in
of its period.
the 2nd century BCE and it is not certain to which he was
The sophisticated water system at Masada transformed a referring. The only material from the Hasmonaean period
barren, isolated hilltop with an arid climate into a lavish (103–40 BCE) so far discovered in excavations at Masada is
royal retreat. This system used run-off water from a single a number of coins of Alexander Jannaeus, from the early part
day of rain to sustain life for a thousand people for two to of the period. There is evidence in the form of archaeological
three years. finds in a cave that there was human settlement there in the
Chalcolithic period (4th millennium BCE) and then in the
The "hanging" Northern Palace with its three terraces Early Iron Age (10th–7th century BCE).
presents the ultimate challenge in designing and building in
extreme conditions. It is a masterpiece of the engineering and Herod the Great (ruled 37–4 BCE) selected the virtually
architecture of antiquity. Criterion i impregnable site of Masada to build a refuge for himself and
his family at a period when he felt himself threatened both
The developments in architecture and landscape design internally by the Jews of his kingdom and externally by
illustrated by the three Herodian and later Zealot building Cleopatra, who wanted to add Judaea to her Egyptian
phases at Masada illustrate an important interchange of kingdom. At first the buildings were relatively modest,
human values over time. The early Herodian phase was one though conforming with classical Roman architectural forms.
of survival, but one in which Roman architecture and the They were progressively enlarged and lavishly decorated, to
Roman way of life were introduced into a harsh natural become a luxurious royal palace. Towards the end of his
environment. With the main Herodian phase a lavish reign Herod felt himself threatened once again and so the
architectural style was adopted and fully integrated into the fortifications were rebuilt and reinforced.
desert landscape. The fear and paranoia of the king resulted
in the site being heavily fortified in the late Herodian period. To the early phase (c 35 BCE) belong the nucleus of the
Finally, a humbler form of architecture was introduced Western Palace, three small palaces, an administrative
during the Zealot phase, suitable for a simpler way of life building, a barracks, three columbaria (also used as watch-
adapted to the harsh living conditions. Criterion ii towers), several large cisterns, and a swimming pool. These
buildings are scattered all over the hilltop, without any
The fall of Masada in 73 CE symbolized the end of the apparent overall plan. The architects had previously served
Second Temple Period, which was a major turning point in the Hasmonaean court, and the early buildings are strikingly
Jewish history. The Masada synagogue is one of the earliest similar to those at Jericho.
examples of a ceremonial prayer building during the last
phase of the Second Temple Period and after the destruction The main phase is dated to the mid 20s of the 1st century
of the Temple in Jerusalem. Criterion iii BCE. The most important new construction was the large

137
Northern Palace; close by was the large bath-house, for the Description
use of the king and his family and guests. Also close to the
The towering hill of Masada, with its precipitous flanks,
palace was a large storage complex composed of eighteen
overlooks a natural landscape of savage beauty. To the west
long store-rooms. This group, together with an
lies the Judaean Desert, with its hills and terraces: it is arid,
administrative building, are located at the highest point of the
yet can burst into bloom during a rainy winter. To the east is
hilltop and constitute a defensible acropolis or citadel.
a wildly broken terrain, running down to the brilliant colours
The Western Palace was considerably enlarged at this time. of the Dead Sea. A giant scarp stretches to the south away to
A series of very large cisterns was dug and new access paths the horizon – the western wall of the Syrian-African rift
were laid out. By contrast with the early period, the new valley – and Masada forms part of this scarp. The top of the
works carried out in this period appear to have been carried hill is roughly trapezoidal, measuring c 600m x 300m.
out in accordance with a plan. They are integrated into two
- The northern area (Herodian period)
complexes, one around the Northern Palace and the other
around the Western Palace. The architecture is also different The main structure here is the Northern Palace, which in its
in that it is in the full Roman style and tradition. present form is from the main phase (late 1st century BCE).
It was built on three slightly modified natural rock terraces.
In the final phase, dated to around 15 BCE, the most
The upper level, through which access was gained to the
important new construction was the casemate wall, 1290m
Palace, was mainly used for residential purposes, with two
long, which surrounds the entire summit. In addition, some
wings of bedrooms flanking a hall; all were originally
small modifications and additions were made to the northern
decorated with mosaic floors and wall paintings. To the
complex.
north of the bedrooms there is a semi-circular colonnaded
With the end of the Herodian dynasty in 6 BCE Judaea came terrace surrounding what was probably a garden.
under direct Roman rule, and a small garrison was installed
On the two lower levels are to be found imposing
at Masada. At the beginning of the Jewish Revolt in 66 a
colonnaded reception halls, one rounded and the other
group of Zealots led by Menahem, one of the Jewish leaders,
rectangular; both had bathing facilities. The lower reception
surprised and slaughtered the garrison. The Zealots held
level is the best preserved of the three. Access was through a
Masada throughout the revolt, and many Jews settled there,
trapezoid courtyard, with store-rooms, meal preparation
particularly after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of
facilities, and a small bathhouse below and around it. There
the Temple by Titus in 70. They occupied some of the
are two rock-hewn cisterns underneath.
Herodian palace buildings, and added more modest
structures of their own, such as a synagogue, a ritual bath, On a small hill just to the south of the Northern Palace is the
and small houses. large bath-house. The large courtyard entrance was probably
used as a palaestra (exercise area). The bathing facilities
Two years later Flavius Silva, the Roman Governor, decided
consisted of a changing room (apodyterium), a cold room
to eliminate this last remaining centre of Jewish resistance.
(tepidarium) in the form of a stepped pool, and a large hot
He sent the X Legion and a number of auxiliary units there,
room (caldarium) with a barrel-vaulted roof. The entire
with many prisoners of war for manual duties. The Jews, led
complex was originally decorated with mosaic floors and
by Eleazar Ben Yair, prepared for a long siege as the
wall paintings, but the floor mosaics were later replaced by
Romans and their prisoners built camps and a long siege wall
coloured stone slabs (opus sectile). In addition, here are the
(circumvallation) at the base of the hill. On a rocky site near
remains of the heating furnaces and water installations.
the western approach to Masada they constructed a massive
ramp of stones and rammed earth. A giant siege tower with a The store-rooms complex originally contained eighteen
battering ram was constructed and moved laboriously up the rooms, thirteen of which were 26m long. They are
completed ramp. It succeeded in breaching the wall of the surrounded by a system of long corridors, also probably used
fortress in 73, allowing the Roman soldiers to enter. for storage. It was easily defensible, with only two entrances.
In addition, there were two (perhaps three) guard towers. A
The Zealots defended stoutly, but there was no hope of
number of long storerooms were added to this complex at the
resisting the Roman attack for long. Josephus reports that
end of the final phase, together with another small bath-
Ben Yair talked to the 960 men, women, and children who
house.
survived, telling them that "a glorious death is preferable to a
life of infamy." All but two took their own lives on 2 May - The western area (Herodian period)
73.
Work on the Western Palace began in the early phase, but it
A Roman garrison was once again installed at Masada and was substantially enlarged and rebuilt in the main phase. To
stayed there for some forty years. It occupied both the hilltop the nucleus, which consisted of a courtyard (with in all
and the fortress constructed by Flavius Silva for the probability a garden) surrounded by bedrooms and reception
besiegers. After the withdrawal of the Roman garrison, the rooms, were added two extensive service wings. Their
site was abandoned until the 5th century. Following a functions would have been varied: storage of furniture,
powerful earthquake, which caused most of the surviving domestic utensils, and food, and food preparation for all the
Herodian buildings to collapse, a small community of palaces on the summit.
Christian monks established themselves on the hilltop. They
built a modest chapel and lived in primitive cells constructed The Palace was expanded once more in the final phase, with
from the ruins and in caves. After some decades this the addition of new wings, including four long storerooms. It
community was disbanded and Masada was deserted until became the largest building on the hilltop. Its size and layout,
excavations began in the 1960s. together with the opulence of its decoration (mosaic floors
and walls of white plaster painted to imitate marble panels).
This confirms the hypothesis that this was the ceremonial

138
palace, the Northern Palace being the private palace for the The great ramp used for the final assault was built of soil and
king and his family. stones braced by an armature of timber beams.
There is a number of smaller palaces, residential blocks, and - The Byzantine church
administrative buildings to the east of the Western palace
The church is located virtually in the centre of the summit,
and between it and the Northern Palace.
and its walls still stand to a considerable height. It was built
- The defences (Herodian period) of coursed dolomite, most of it robbed from the ruins of the
Herodian buildings. The walls were bonded with lime
The casemate wall was built in the final phase. This massive
mortar. The floor was originally covered with a mosaic, but
defensive wall, 1290m in length, contains nearly 70 rooms
much of this was removed to the Louvre in Paris after a 19th
on its inner side, some more than 30m long, and has 27
century excavation. The walls were plastered, and surviving
towers. Three gates pierce the wall: the Western Gate, the
fragments show that it was decorated with designs made of
Southern Gate, and the Snake Path Gate (the eastern gate).
coloured stones and potsherds. The plan is the characteristic
The existing Water Gate, which gave access to the Northern
rectangular hall with an apse at the east end and a narthex at
Palace, was not incorporated into the casemate wall.
the west end.
- Water management
- Building materials and techniques
A number of deep cisterns were dug into the rock of Masada
Most of the Herodian walls and their foundations were built
in all three phases. The small ones dug during the first phase
of undressed blocks of the local dolomite, bonded with
were filled by run-off from the hill-top itself during the
mortar made of local earth mixed with straw. The blocks
winter. During the main phase two rows of cisterns were dug
were laid in courses, with larger blocks (c 90cm long) in the
beneath the hill-top. The row of four 130m below the summit
lower courses. The only worked stones were those used for
each had a capacity of 4000m3. The second row was 50m
constructing corners and doorjambs. Walls varied in
higher: the eight cisterns were each capable of receiving
thickness between 60cm and 95cm. The defensive walls are
3000m3. Water was delivered through a network of dams and
different both in dimensions and construction. They average
channels into this system during the winter floods in the
6.5m in thickness and consist of an outer wall 1.4m thick and
wadis to the west of Masada.
an inner one 0.95m thick filled with rubble.
- Structures from the Zealot period
The use of ashlar (dressed stone) is very rare at Masada: it is
Most of the buildings on the hilltop were occupied by the restricted to the three terraces of the Northern Palace and the
around one thousand people who lived there at that time, and three columbaria. Here the stone used was not the hard local
more particularly the casemates and the smaller palaces (the dolomite but a soft grey-green limestone. Sandstone was
Western Palace appears to have been used for communal and used where precision was needed: columns, architraves,
administrative purposes). Large rooms were partitioned into central pillars in staircases, etc. These materials were either
smaller units, existing entrances were blocked and new ones extracted from nearby quarries or from quarries near Jericho,
opened, and temporary constructions added. Facilities for the latter being brought to Masada by boat. A lime-based
baking and cooking, water, and storage were also inserted. mortar was used in such cases

The most important new feature from this time was the With the exception of the casemate walls, all the walls (and
synagogue, a square building from the Herodian period that many of the ceilings) were plastered. In many interiors a
was probably used as a stable. Three rows of benches, plaster of earth and straw was used, identical with the mortar
characteristic of early synagogues, were built round the used for wall building. This was probably coated with a lime
walls, and the genizah (depository for superseded scrolls) wash, though little of this has survived.
under the floor of the back room.
Lime-based plaster was also used in some cases, both
Seven or eight ritual baths (mikveh) were identified, internally and externally. Where plaster was used on external
including one large stepped immersion pool to the south of surfaces, it extended either over the lower section only or
the Western Palace. A public hall was also constructed at this over the entire surface. A special plaster containing ash as
time attached to one of the smaller palaces. well as lime (hydraulic plaster) was used in rooms exposed
to high humidity, notably the bath-houses, cisterns, and
- Roman military remains water channels.
There is a network of eight Roman military camps around These techniques are to be found, to a high level of
Masada, none of which has been excavated. Two are large, craftsmanship, on the more substantial buildings from the
two smaller. One of the large camps lies to the east and the Zealot period.
other to the west of Masada. Evidence from aerial survey and
probing show them to be standard Roman legionary
fortresses of quadrilateral plan. In that lying to the west
Management and Protection
(which is believed to have been the headquarters of Flavius
Silva) a smaller sector had been fortified later, to form the Legal status
headquarters of the later garrison. Both lie outside the
The entire site is a National Park, established under the
circumvallation, whereas the smaller ones are more closely
provisions of the National Parks, Nature Reserves, Memorial
associated with that long earthwork. A striking feature of all
Sites and National Sites Law (1998), and the archaeological
the Roman camps are the hundreds of contubernia (messing
sites are covered by the Antiquities Law (1978). The
units), consisting of walls of stones 1–1.5m high on which
National Park is further protected by being entirely
the soldiers erected their leather tents.
surrounded by the Judaean Desert Nature Reserve, also
established under the 1998 Act. There is also a belt of open

139
land between the site and the Dead Sea which is protected as summit. There are underground parking facilities for cars and
open agricultural land under the provisions of a local master small buses and an open park for coaches.
plan under the Planning and Building Law 1965. There are
A number of commercial enterprises are to be relocated in a
very severe penalties for any unauthorized actions that in any
new facility that will not be visible from the summit. The
way affect the qualities of the National Park and the
youth hostel is also to be located here.
archaeological monuments.
A new cable car, which began operating in May 1999, has
Management
halved the waiting time for visitors; this starts from the new
The entire nominated area and the buffer zone are owned by entrance. The site of its upper terminal was carefully
the State of Israel. selected: it is located below the ancient entrance gate and
access to the site proper is via a bridge. All the facilities that
Management of the Masada National Park and of the
are being replaced are being demolished and the land
Judaean Desert Nature Reserve is the legal responsibility of
restored to its earlier appearance.
the Nature and Parks Protection Authority, whilst
responsibility for the archaeological sites is vested in the Of particular importance is the project to dismantle and
Israel Antiquities Authority. The belt of agricultural land relocate the service cable lift, which dates from the
comes under the control of the Regional Council. excavations in the 1960s. At present this passes directly
above the Roman ramp and enters the enceinte through the
Direct management of the Park is in the hands of the Park
breach made by the besiegers, which is one of the key
Director. The nature reserves around the archaeological site
historical locations on the site.
is regularly patrolled by rangers, operating from En Gedi
oasis and Arad, 20km north and 25km west of Masada There is a son-et-lumière installation below the western side
respectively. of the hill, used principally for educational purposes.
The headquarters of the Nature and Parks Protection
Authority has planning committees which are responsibility
for approving and implementing development plans. Conservation and Authenticity
Independent experts attend the meetings of these committees Conservation history
and public hearings are held to consider issues of
outstanding national and international interest. The Israel The site was first identified as that of Masada by two
Antiquities Authority has an independent conservation travellers in 1863. Other visits followed in the second half of
committee which considers conservation and reconstruction the 19th century and the 20th century, in particular the
proposals and projects. scholars responsible for the Palestine Exploration Fund's
Survey of Western Palestine in 1867 and 1875.
Following the merger of the Nature Reserves Authority with
the National Parks Authority in 1998 an outline management A limited archaeological survey was carried out in 1955–56,
plan for heritage sites in nature reserves was prepared with sponsored by the Israel Exploration Society, the Hebrew
the assistance of the Getty Conservation Institute. An University, and the Department of Antiquities. In 1963–65
updated version is nearing completion: the coverage is Professor Yigael Yadin carried out his celebrated excavation.
comprehensive and fully in conformity with the requirements The decision was taken before the excavations ended to open
of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the the site to the public as a national park, and conservation
World Heritage Convention so far as the cultural heritage work began immediately the excavators moved out.
element is concerned. The work was based on a plan set up by a committee of
One of the most serious problems is that of visitor numbers: specialists, according to the prevailing standards of the
currently the number of visitors is around 650,000, and it is period (which involved the use of Portland cement, now
forecast that this figure will rise to 900,000 by 2001 and 1.25 almost entirely replaced). Conservators from Israel and
million by 2010 (it should be noted, however, that the abroad have worked on the site continuously since that time,
current disturbed internal political situation has resulted in a continually updating their techniques and expertise. In the
drastic reduction in visitor numbers). There have also been course of the past five years, since the Masada development
determined efforts in recent years to commercialize the project began, most of the buildings in the northern area have
archaeological site. These points were given special been worked on. Work has been carried out to evaluate and
consideration in the development programme improve the stability of the rock. A major stabilization and
conservation project is in progress on the Western Palace by
A project for the construction of an hotel and recreation area a team headed by Professor John Ashurst (University of
11km to the north has been shelved. A policy of prohibiting Oxford, UK).
commercial activities of any kind or picnic facilities on the
summit has been rigorously maintained. There is now a As part of the development project there is a five-year
visitors' trail on the summit with interpretation along its conservation programme, due to end during 2001, which has
length. involved fifteen trained conservators and twenty unskilled
workers. From 2002 onwards there will be a planned
A new entrance project on the eastern side, almost entirely maintenance programme operated by a team of between five
invisible from the summit, is nearing completion and all and seven trained workers. This will coincide with the
facilities are being moved there. This will house interpretive introduction of a systematic monitoring process. A detailed
material, conservation facilities, management offices, manual has been prepared, covering different aspects of
restaurants, etc. The building is well designed so as not to conservation, maintenance, and management, and is
conflict with its historic and natural environment and sited so systematically updated.
as to have a minimal visual impact when viewed from the

140
An important part of the management plan is the decision to For the Roman military camps, circumvallation, and ramp
carry out no further research excavation on the main site "in there is no site that can compare with Masada in terms of
the present generation." Limited excavation will be permitted visibility and completeness.
when necessitated by conservation or restoration projects.
ICOMOS recommendations for future action
Authenticity and integrity
Careful consideration needs to be given to the siting of the
This is a site that remained untouched for more than thirteen coach park at the entrance facility. The present site interrupts
centuries. The buildings and other evidence of human the line of the Roman siege wall between two forts. The
settlement gradually collapsed and were covered over until black tarmac surface is intrusive when seen from above.
they were revealed in the 1960s. There have been no
Whilst good relations clearly exist between the groups
additions or reconstruction (beyond an acceptable level of
responsible for the management of the "cultural" and
anastylosis), and inappropriate materials used in early
"natural" elements, it would be desirable for there to be
conservation projects are being replaced. Certain significant
careful scrutiny of their respective objectives and
archaeological elements, such as the Roman camps and
programmes in order to ensure homogeneity and avoid
siegeworks, remain virtually untouched. The authenticity is
potential conflicts.
therefore of a very high level.
There is a case for examining the integrity of Masada, like Brief description
most archaeological sites. As mentioned above, nothing has Masada, the site of the self-immolation of nearly a thousand
been added and nothing taken away from the remains. Of Jewish patriots in the face of a large Roman army, was built
equal importance is the fact that the setting of Masada, the as a palace complex and place of refuge by Herod the Great,
magnificent wild scenery of this region, has not changed King of Judaea. Its extensive remains survive on the summit
over many millennia. The only intrusions are the visitor of this seemingly impregnable fortress, set in a rugged
facilities, which in their new form have been designed and natural landscape of great beauty. Below are the unexcavated
sited sympathetically, and the cable car. The latter has been, sites and siegeworks of a large Roman army
and still is, controversial. However, access to the summit is
extremely arduous: if some assistance were not provided, Statement of Significance
many of the Jewish people for whom this site has immense The palace complex built by Herod the Great, King of
symbolic value, would be unable to visit it. The new facilities Judaea, on the summit of the dramatic mountain site of
at each end have been designed and, in the case of the upper Masada in the 1st century BCE consists of an exceptional
terminal, located with care, so as to minimize their visual group of classical Roman Imperial buildings. When this
impact. natural defensive site, further strengthened by massive walls,
Evaluation was occupied by survivors of the Jewish Revolt against
Roman rule, it was successfully besieged by a massive
Action by ICOMOS Roman army. The group of military camps and siegeworks at
Masada are the most complete anywhere in the Roman
A joint ICOMOS-IUCN expert mission visited Masada in
world. Masada is a poignant symbol of the continuing human
March 2001.
struggle between oppression and liberty.
Qualities
ICOMOS Recommendation
Masada is a dramatically located site of great natural beauty
That this property be inscribed on the World Heritage List on
on which the Judaean king Herod the Great constructed a
sumptuous palace complex in classical Roman style. After the basis of cultural criteria iii, iv, and vi:
Judaea became a province of the Roman Empire, it was the Criterion iii Masada is a symbol of the ancient Jewish
refuge of the last survivors of the Jewish revolt, who chose kingdom of Israel, of its violent destruction in the later
death rather than slavery when the Roman besiegers broke 1st century CE, and of the subsequent Diaspora.
through their defences. As such it has an emblematic value
for the Jewish people. Criterion iv The palace of Herod the Great at Masada is
an outstanding example of a luxurious villa of the Early
It is also an archaeological site of great significance. The Roman Empire, whilst the camps and other fortifications
remains of Herod's palaces are outstanding and very intact that encircle the monument constitute the finest and most
examples of this type of architecture, whilst the untouched complete Roman siege works to have survived to the
siegeworks are the finest and most complete anywhere in the present day.
Roman world.
Criterion vi The tragic events during the last days of the
Comparative analysis Jewish refugees who occupied the fortress and palace of
There are several imperial Roman villas from the 1st Masada make it a symbol both of Jewish cultural identity
centuries BCE and CE of which substantial remains survive. and, more universally, of the continuing human struggle
The closest to Herod the Great's villa at Masada is probably between oppression and liberty.
the slightly later Villa Jovis built by Tiberius on a similar Bureau Recommendation
prominent site on the island of Capri. However, it differs in a
number of respects, notably the fact that it lacks the That this property be inscribed on the World Heritage List on
associated administrative structures of Masada and its the basis of criteria iii, iv, and vi.
massive defences.

ICOMOS, September 2001

141
 La chute de Massada en 73 après J.-C. marque la fin de la
seconde période du Temple, une étape majeure dans
Massada (Israël) l’histoire juive. La synagogue de Massada est l’un des tout
premiers exemples d’édifice de prières construit durant la
No 1040 dernière phase de la deuxième période du Temple, après la
destruction du Temple de Jérusalem.
Critère iii

Les ruines de Massada reflètent plusieurs étapes de l’histoire

de l’humanité : l’architecture romaine classique (palais,
thermes, greniers, travaux hydrauliques, installations
Identification militaires), l’humble architecture domestique (avec une
synagogue et des bains rituels), et le début du monachisme
Bien proposé Parc national de Massada chrétien. Les éléments les plus remarquables de ce site sont
les fortifications romaines autour du piton rocheux, les
Lieu Région de Tamar mieux préservées au monde et presque entièrement non
fouillées, et le palais du Nord.
État partie Israël Critère iv
Date 30 juin 2000 Les vestiges et l’histoire de Massada sont directement liés à
quelques-unes des valeurs les plus fondamentales de
l’humanité. Les luttes qui se sont jouées à Massada - la
minorité contre le plus grand nombre, la liberté contre
Justification émanant de l’État partie l’esclavage, la liberté religieuse contre l’oppression, la vie
contre la mort – sont les thèmes de discussions morales et
Massada est un site d’importance universelle, appartenant au académiques universelles, et le resteront encore longtemps.
patrimoine culturel et naturel. Cet éperon rocheux perdu Critère vi
dans le désert de Judée, face à la mer Morte, exprime la
géologie et la nature particulières de cette région. Ces Note Ce bien est proposé pour inscription en tant que site
vestiges archéologiques datent de trois périodes de mixte. Le Bureau, au cours de sa 25ème session, n’a pas
peuplement humain du site, chronologiquement distinctes et recommandé son inscription sur la base des critères naturels.
de caractères différents. Chacune, unique, reflète par ailleurs
les motifs complexes de l’entrelacs de contextes culturels
humains de l’époque. Catégorie de bien
Le système d’irrigation sophistiqué de Massada a transformé En termes de catégories de biens culturels, telles qu’elles
un rocher stérile et isolé, au climat aride, en une somptueuse sont définies à l’article premier de la Convention du
retraite royale. Il utilisait le trop plein d’eau tombé pendant Patrimoine mondial de 1972, il s’agit d’un site.
un seul jour de pluie pour faire vivre un millier de personnes
pendant deux ou trois ans.
Histoire et description
Le palais du Nord, construit sur trois niveaux, représente
l’aboutissement ultime de la conception et de la construction Histoire
dans des conditions extrêmes. C’est un chef d’œuvre de
l’ingénierie et de l’architecture de l’Antiquité. On connaît l’histoire de Massada essentiellement grâce à
Critère i l’œuvre de Flavius Josèphe, historien juif du Ier siècle après
J.-C, et aux fouilles de 1963-1965.
Les développements de l’architecture et du paysagisme
qu’illustrent les trois phases de constructions hérodiennes Selon Flavius Josèphe, le site a d’abord été fortifié par le
puis, plus tard, la phase zélote, sont le reflet d’importants grand prêtre Jonathan. Mais deux grands prêtres de ce nom
échanges de valeurs humaines au fil du temps. La première ont existé au IIe siècle avant notre ère, et l’on ne sait pas avec
phase hérodienne est une phase de survie, témoin toutefois exactitude auquel il fait référence. Les seuls vestiges de la
de l’introduction de l’architecture romaine et du mode de vie période asmonéenne (103-40 avant notre ère) mis à jour par
romain dans un environnement naturel difficile. Quant à la les fouilles à Massada sont quelques pièces datant
phase hérodienne principale, elle voit l’adoption d’un style d’Alexandre Jannée, du début de la période. Par ailleurs, des
architectural luxueux, parfaitement intégré au paysage découvertes archéologiques dans une grotte prouvent que le
désertique. Par la suite, la peur et la paranoïa du roi site accueillait un peuplement humain dès le Chalcolithique
entraînent la lourde fortification du site au cours de la (IVe millénaire avant notre ère), puis au début de l’âge du fer
dernière période hérodienne. Enfin, une forme d’architecture (Xe-VIIe siècle avant notre ère).
plus humble voit le jour pendant la phase zélote, calquée sur
un mode de vie plus simple, adapté aux rudes conditions Hérode le Grand (règne 37-4 avant notre ère) choisit le site
environnantes. quasiment imprenable de Massada pour construire un refuge
Critère ii pour sa famille et lui-même, à une époque où il se sent
menacé tant de l’intérieur, par les Juifs de son royaume, que
de l’extérieur, par Cléopâtre, désireuse d’ajouter la Judée au
royaume d’Égypte. Les édifices sont d’abord relativement

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modestes, quoique conformes aux formes architecturales tour, dotée d’un bélier, est construite et laborieusement
classiques de Rome. Ils sont progressivement agrandis et installée au sommet de la rampe d’accès achevée. En 73, les
somptueusement décorés, devenant peu à peu un palais royal soldats romains parviennent grâce à elle à ouvrir une brèche
luxueux. Vers la fin de son règne, Hérode se sent à nouveau dans la forteresse et à y pénétrer.
en danger, et fait donc reconstruire et renforcer les
fortifications. Les Zélotes ont beau se défendre vaillamment, il n’y a aucun
espoir de résister longtemps aux Romains. Josèphe rapporte
Le cœur du palais de l’Ouest, trois petits palais, un bâtiment que Ben Yaïr convainc les 960 hommes, femmes et enfants
administratif, un camp militaire, trois columbaria (faisant survivants de se suicider, leur disant qu’une « mort glorieuse
également office de tours de guet), plusieurs grandes citernes est préférable à une vie d’infamie ». Le 2 mai 73, à
et une piscine appartiennent à la première phase (aux l’exception de 2 personnes, tous suivent la voie qu’il leur a
environs de 35 avant notre ère). Ces édifices sont disséminés montrée.
sur l’ensemble de l’éperon rocheux, sans plan global
apparent. Les architectes avaient précédemment servi la cour Massada voit à nouveau s’établir une garnison romaine, qui
asmonéenne, et les premiers édifices présentent une y restera pendant une quarantaine d’années, occupant à la
ressemblance frappante avec ceux de Jéricho. fois le sommet du rocher et la forteresse construite par
Flavius Silva pour les assiégeants. Après le départ de la
La phase principale se situe dans les années 20 du Ier siècle garnison romaine, le site est abandonné jusqu’au Ve siècle.
avant notre ère. Le palais du Nord est la construction À la suite d’un fort tremblement de terre, qui provoque
majeure de cette période ; à proximité se trouvent de vastes l’effondrement de la majeure partie des édifices hérodiens
thermes, à l’usage du souverain, de sa famille et des invités. subsistants, une petite communauté de moines chrétiens
Près du palais se trouve également un grand complexe s’établit sur le site. Ils y érigent une modeste chapelle, et
d’entreposage, composé de dix-huit greniers bâtis en vivent dans des cellules frustes construites à partir des ruines
longueur. Ce groupe, avec un bâtiment administratif, se et dans des grottes. Après quelques décennies, la
dresse au point culminant de l’éperon rocheux, et constitue communauté se disperse, et Massada est à nouveau désertée,
ainsi une citadelle défendable. jusqu’à ce que des fouilles y commencent, dans les
années 1960.
À cette même époque, le palais de l’Ouest est
considérablement agrandi. Plusieurs très grandes citernes Description
sont creusées, et de nouvelles voies d’accès conçues.
Contrairement à ceux de la première période, les nouveaux L’éperon rocheux de Massada, aux flancs abrupts,
travaux semblent avoir suivi un plan. Ils se rassemblent en surplombe un paysage naturel d’une sauvage beauté. À
effet en deux complexes, l’un autour du palais du Nord et l’ouest s’étend le désert de Judée, avec ses collines et ses
l’autre autour du palais de l’Ouest. L’architecture en est terrasses : aride, il n’en est pas moins capable de floraison
également différente, en ce qu’elle est à présent dans le plus lors des hivers pluvieux. À l’est, un terrain escarpé descend
pur style romain. jusqu’aux couleurs chatoyantes de la mer Morte. Enfin, un
gigantesque escarpement s’étend vers le sud jusqu’à
En ce qui concerne la dernière période, aux alentours de 15 l’horizon – la paroi occidentale du rift entre la Syrie et
avant notre ère, la plus importante nouvelle construction est l’Afrique – et Massada en fait partie. Le sommet de la
le mur à casemates, de 1290 m de long, qui encercle tout le montagne, de forme vaguement trapézoïdale, mesure environ
sommet. En outre, des modifications et ajouts mineurs sont 600 x 300 m.
apportés au complexe du nord.
- La zone du nord (époque hérodienne)
Avec la fin de la dynastie hérodienne, en 6 avant notre ère, la
Judée passe sous la férule de Rome, et une petite garnison La principale structure en est le palais du Nord, lequel, sous
romaine est installée à Massada. Au début de la révolte juive, sa forme actuelle, remonte à la période principale (fin du
en 66, des Zélotes, avec à leur tête Menahem, l’un des Ier siècle avant notre ère). Il fut construit sur trois terrasses
meneurs juifs, prennent la garnison par surprise et la rocheuses naturelles légèrement modifiées. Le niveau
massacrent. Les Zélotes conservent Massada pendant toute la supérieur, par lequel on accédait au palais, était
révolte, et beaucoup de Juifs s’y installent, notamment après principalement utilisé à des fins résidentielles, avec deux
la chute de Jérusalem et la destruction du Temple par Titus ailes de chambres flanquant un vestibule ; toutes étaient à
en 70. Ils occupent une partie des édifices palatiaux l’origine décorées de pavements de mosaïques et de
hérodiens, et ajoutent des structures plus modestes de leur peintures murales. Au nord des chambres, une terrasse semi-
cru, synagogue, bains rituels et petites habitations. circulaire à colonnades entoure ce qui était probablement un
jardin.
Deux ans après, Flavius Silva, gouverneur romain, décide
d’éliminer ce dernier bastion de la résistance juive. Il y Les deux niveaux inférieurs abritent d’imposantes salles de
envoie la Xe Légion, accompagnée de plusieurs réception à colonnades, l’une de forme arrondie et l’autre
détachements auxiliaires et de nombreux prisonniers de rectangulaire ; toutes deux possédaient des thermes. Le
guerre, assignés aux travaux manuels. Les Juifs, menés par niveau de réception inférieur est le mieux préservé des trois.
Éléazar Ben Yaïr, se préparent à un long siège, alors que les On y accédait via une cour trapézoïdale, avec des entrepôts,
Romains et leurs prisonniers construisent des camps au pied des cuisines, et de petits thermes en contrebas et autour.
de la colline et un long rempart de siège (mur de Deux citernes taillées dans la roche se trouvent elles aussi en
circonvallation). Sur un site rocheux proche de l’accès contrebas.
occidental à Massada, ils construisent une énorme rampe
d’accès, faite de pierres et de pisé de terre. Une gigantesque

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Sur une petite colline au sud du palais du Nord se trouvent quatre citernes, à 130 m en-dessous du sommet, d’une
les grands thermes. La grande cour d’accès servait capacité de 4000 m3 chacune. La deuxième se trouvait 50 m
probablement de palaestra (zone d’exercice). Les au-dessus : chacune des huit citernes qui la constituaient
installations des thermes comprenaient un vestiaire pouvait recevoir 3000 m3. L’eau s’y déversait au moyen d’un
(apodyterium), une salle à température modérée (tepidarium) réseau de digues et de canaux, pendant les inondations
sous la forme d’une piscine en gradins, et une grande étuve hivernales dans les oueds de l’ouest de Massada.
(caldarium) dotée d’une voûte en berceau. Initialement, le
complexe tout entier était décoré de pavements en mosaïque - Structures de la période zélote
et de peintures murales, mais les mosaïques de pavement
cédèrent ensuite la place à des dalles de pierre colorées (opus La plupart des édifices se dressant en haut du promontoire
sectile). C’est là aussi qu’on retrouve les vestiges des étaient occupés par le millier de personnes qui y vivaient à
chaudières et des installations d’eau. l’époque, notamment dans les casemates et les petits palais
(le palais de l’Ouest semble alors avoir été utilisé à des fins
Le complexe de greniers comptait à l’origine 18 salles, dont communales et administratives). Les plus grandes salles
13 de 26 m de long, entourées d’un système de longs furent divisées en unités plus petites, les entrées existantes
couloirs, qui servaient probablement eux aussi d’entrepôts. furent bloquées et de nouvelles ouvertes, tandis que de
Ne comptant que deux entrées, il était facile à défendre. Il y nouvelles constructions étaient ajoutées. Des aménagements
avait aussi deux (peut-être trois) tours de guet. Plusieurs furent également construits pour faire le pain et la cuisine,
magasins bâtis en longueur ont été ajoutés à ce complexe à la pour l’eau et pour l’entreposage.
fin de la dernière phase, ainsi que d’autres petits thermes.
Le nouveau trait le plus marquant de cette période est la
- La zone occidentale (époque hérodienne) synagogue, un édifice carré de la période hérodienne qui
servait probablement d’écurie à l’époque. Trois rangées de
Si les travaux du palais de l’Ouest commencèrent à la bancs, caractéristiques des premières synagogues,
première phase, il fut substantiellement agrandi et reconstruit s’étendaient le long des murs, le genizah (réceptacle des
pendant la période principale. Au noyau, composé d’une anciens manuscrits) se trouvant sous le sol de l’arrière-salle.
cour (avec, selon toutes probabilités, un jardin) entourée de
chambres et de salles de réception, furent ajoutées deux Sept ou huit bains rituels (mikveh) ont été identifiés, dont un
grandes ailes de service. Leurs fonctions étaient grand bassin d’immersion en gradins au sud du palais de
probablement diverses : rangement des meubles, des l’Ouest. Un hall public, adjacent à l’un des petits palais, fut
ustensiles domestiques et de la nourriture, cuisine pour tous également construit à cette époque.
les palais du promontoire.
- Les vestiges militaires romains
Le palais fut une nouvelle fois agrandi à la dernière période,
avec l’ajout de nouvelles ailes, comptant entre autres quatre On observe un réseau de huit camps militaires romains
longs magasins. Il devint ainsi le plus grand édifice du site. autour de Massada, dont aucun n’a fait l’objet de fouilles.
Sa taille et sa disposition, ainsi que l’opulence de sa Deux sont grands, deux autres plus petits. Le premier des
décoration (pavements en mosaïque et murs en enduit blanc grands camps se dresse à l’est, et l’autre à l’ouest de
peints de façon à imiter des panneaux de marbre), confirment Massada. Des relevés aériens et des sondages montrent qu’il
l’hypothèse qu’il s’agissait du palais destiné aux cérémonies s’agit de forteresses légionnaires romaines typiques, de plan
et aux réceptions, celui du Nord étant le palais d’habitation quadrilatéral. Dans le camp occidental (que l’on croit être le
où résidaient le roi et sa famille. quartier général de Flavius Silva), un petit secteur a plus tard
été fortifié, pour devenir le quartier général de la garnison
On trouve également plusieurs palais plus petits, des suivante. Tous deux sont en dehors du mur de
complexes résidentiels et des bâtiments administratifs à l’est circonvallation, alors que les plus petits sont plus étroitement
du palais de l’Ouest, de même qu’entre ce dernier et le palais associés à ce long remblai. Trait frappant de tous ces camps
du Nord. romains, les centaines de contubernia (unités de mess), des
murets de pierre de 1 à 1,5 m de haut sur lesquels les soldats
- Les fortifications (période hérodienne) dressaient leurs tentes de cuir.

Le mur à casemates fut érigé pendant la dernière phase. Ces La grande rampe utilisée pour l’assaut final, en terre et en
remparts massifs, de 1290 m de longueur, abritent environ pierre, était consolidée par une armature de poutres de bois.
70 casemates du côté intérieur, certaines de plus de 30 m, et
comptent 27 tours. Trois portes s’y ouvrent : la porte de - L’église byzantine
l’Ouest, la porte du Sud, et la porte du Sentier du Serpent (à
l’est). La porte de l’Eau, qui permettait d’accéder au palais L’église s’élève quasiment en plein centre du site, et ses
du Nord, ne faisait pas partie du mur à casemates. murs demeurent aujourd’hui encore d’une hauteur
considérable. Elle est faite de dolomite taillée, volée, dans sa
- Gestion de l’eau grande majorité, sur les ruines des édifices hérodiens, le liant
utilisé étant un mortier de chaux. À l’origine, le sol était
Au cours des trois périodes, plusieurs citernes profondes ont recouvert d’un pavement en mosaïque, mais ce dernier a en
été creusées à même le roc de Massada. Les plus petites, grande partie été emmené au Louvre après des fouilles, au
creusées à la première période, étaient remplies en hiver par XIXe siècle. Des fragments subsistant des murs enduits
les eaux d’écoulement se déversant depuis le sommet de la montrent que ceux-ci étaient décorés de motifs faits de
colline. À la deuxième période, deux rangées de citernes pierres colorées et de tessons de poterie. Le plan,
furent construites en contrebas. La première rangée comptait

148
caractéristique, est celui d’un hall rectangulaire, doté d’une Gestion
abside à l’extrémité orientale et d’un narthex à l’ouest.
Le site proposé pour inscription et la zone tampon sont la
- Matériaux et techniques de construction propriété de l’État d’Israël.

La plupart des murailles hérodiennes et leurs fondations La gestion du parc national de Massada et de la réserve
étaient faites de blocs non taillés de dolomite, liés à l’aide naturelle du désert de Judée sont sous la responsabilité
d’un mortier fait d’un mélange de terre et de paille. Les blocs juridique de l’autorité de protection de la nature et des parcs,
étaient posés sur plusieurs assises, les plus importants tandis que la responsabilité des sites archéologiques incombe
(environ 90 cm de long) sur les assises inférieures. Seuls les à l’autorité des antiquités israéliennes. Quant à la ceinture de
angles et les montants de porte étaient en pierre taillée. terre agricole, elle est soumise au contrôle du conseil
L’épaisseur des murs allait de 60 à 95 cm. Les remparts, pour régional.
leur part, différaient tant par leurs dimensions que par leur
construction. Ils faisaient en moyenne 6,5 m d’épaisseur, et La gestion directe du parc échoit au directeur de ce dernier.
se composaient d’un mur extérieur de 1,4 m d’épaisseur, et Des gardes forestiers, opérant à partir des oasis d’En Gedi et
d’un intérieur de 0,95 m, comblé par des gravats. d’Arad, à 20 km au nord et à 25 km à l’ouest de Massada
respectivement, patrouillent régulièrement dans la réserve
L’utilisation de la pierre de taille est très rare à Massada, naturelle qui entoure le site archéologique.
puisqu’elle se limite aux trois terrasses du palais du Nord et
aux trois columbaria. Là, la pierre utilisée n’est pas la L’autorité de protection de la nature et des parcs dispose de
dolomite locale, mais une roche calcaire tendre, couleur gris- comités de planification responsables d’agréer et de mettre
vert. Le grès a été privilégié pour les travaux exigeant de la en œuvre les plans de développement. Des experts
précision : piliers, architraves, colonnes centrales des indépendants assistent aux réunions de ceux-ci, et des
escaliers, etc. Ces matériaux étaient extraits de carrières audiences publiques se tiennent en cas de questions d’intérêt
proches, ou d’autres à proximité de Jericho ; dans ce dernier national et international exceptionnel. L’autorité des
cas, ils étaient amenés à Massada par bateau. Ces travaux antiquités israéliennes possède un comité indépendant de
étaient réalisés à l’aide d’un mortier à base de chaux. conservation, qui étudie les propositions et projets de
conservation et de restauration.
À l’exception des murs de casemate, tous les murs (et
beaucoup des plafonds) étaient enduits. La plupart des Après la fusion de l’autorité en charge des réserves naturelles
intérieurs sont faits d’un enduit mélangeant terre et paille, avec son homologue responsable des parcs nationaux en
identique au mortier utilisé pour la construction des 1998, un plan de gestion des sites archéologiques dans les
remparts. Il était probablement revêtu d’un lait de chaux, réserves naturelles a été élaboré, en collaboration avec
quoiqu’il n’en reste que peu de vestiges. l’institut de conservation Getty. Une version actualisée est
actuellement en cours de finalisation : elle couvre tous les
Un enduit à base de chaux a aussi été utilisé dans certains aspects de la question, et est en parfaite conformité avec les
cas, à la fois à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur. Sur des surfaces prescriptions des Orientations devant guider la mise en
externes, il s’étendait soit sur la section inférieure œuvre de la Convention du patrimoine mondial en ce qui
uniquement, soit sur la surface toute entière. Un enduit concerne l’élément culturel.
spécial, contenant des cendres aussi bien que de la chaux
(« chaux hydraulique ») a été utilisé dans les pièces exposées Le nombre de visiteurs fait parti des problèmes les plus
à une forte humidité, notamment les thermes, les citernes et préoccupants : actuellement, il avoisine les 650 000, et
les canaux. devrait, selon les prévisions, atteindre 900 000 d’ici à 2001
et 1,25 million d’ici à 2010 (à noter cependant que la
Ces techniques, poussées à leur apogée, se retrouvent dans situation politique intérieure très troublée a entraîné une
les plus importants bâtiments de la période zélote. diminution drastique du nombre de visiteurs). Le site
archéologique, ces dernières années, a également fait l'objet
d'une volonté bien affirmée de « commercialisation ». Le
Gestion et protection programme de développement se penche sur ces points avec
une attention toute particulière.
Statut juridique
Un projet de construction d’un hôtel et d’un complexe de
Le site tout entier est un parc national, établi par les loisirs à 11 km au nord a été mis en suspens. La politique
dispositions de la loi sur les parcs nationaux, les réserves d’interdiction des actions commerciales en tout genre et des
naturelles, les sites mémoriaux et les sites nationaux (1998), installations de pique-nique sur l’éperon rocheux est
tandis que les sites archéologiques sont couverts par la loi rigoureusement appliquée. Seule concession, une piste
sur les antiquités (1978). Le parc national est encore mieux jalonnée de panneaux d’interprétation pour les visiteurs du
protégé, de par le fait qu’il s’inscrit entièrement dans la site.
réserve naturelle du désert de Judée, elle aussi établie en
vertu de la loi de 1998. En outre, une bande de terre en friche Un projet de nouvelle entrée du côté est, presque entièrement
s’étend entre le site et la mer Morte ; en tant que friche invisible depuis le promontoire, touche à sa fin, et toutes les
agricole, elle est protégée par les dispositions d’un plan installations y sont déplacées. Le bâtiment abritera du
directeur local adopté en vertu de la loi sur l’urbanisme et la matériel d’interprétation, des installations de conservation,
construction de 1965. Les actions non autorisées affectant les les bureaux de la direction, des restaurants, etc. Il est conçu
caractéristiques du parc national et des monuments intelligemment, de façon à ne pas avoir un impact négatif sur
archéologiques sont passibles de sévères sanctions. son environnement historique et naturel, et installé de

149
manière à n’avoir qu’un impact visuel minimum depuis le Dans le cadre du projet de développement, un programme
point de vue du sommet. Un parking souterrain pour les quinquennal de conservation, qui devrait prendre fin dans le
voitures et les mini-bus et un autre à ciel ouvert pour les courant de l’année 2001, fait travailler quinze conservateurs
autocars ont été mis en place. formés et vingt ouvriers non spécialisés. À partir de 2002, un
programme de maintenance planifié sera mis en œuvre par
Plusieurs entreprises commerciales doivent être transférées une équipe de cinq à sept ouvriers qualifiés. Il coïncidera
dans un nouveau complexe, invisible depuis le sommet. avec l’introduction d’un suivi systématique. Un manuel
C’est là également que se trouvera l’auberge de jeunesse. détaillé, couvrant différents aspects de la conservation, de la
maintenance et de la gestion, a été préparé et fait l’objet
Un nouveau téléphérique, entré en opération en mai 1999, a d’une actualisation systématique.
divisé par deux le temps d’attente des visiteurs ; il part de la
nouvelle entrée. Le site du terminal du haut a été choisi avec Dans le cadre du plan de gestion, une décision importante a
soin : il se trouve sous l’ancien portail d’entrée ; l’accès au été prise : celle de ne plus effectuer de plus amples fouilles
site proprement dit se fait via un pont. Toutes les sur le site principal jusqu’à la génération suivante. Des
installations en cours de remplacement sont démolies, afin fouilles limitées seront cependant autorisées si des projets de
que le terrain reprenne son aspect de jadis. conservation ou de restauration l’exigent.

Le projet de démantèlement et de transfert du téléphérique, Authenticité et intégrité

qui date des fouilles des années 1960, est tout
particulièrement primordial. Actuellement, il passe Il s’agit là d’un site demeuré intouché pendant plus de treize
directement au-dessus de la rampe romaine, et pénètre dans siècles. Les édifices et autres preuves de peuplement humain
l’enceinte par la brèche ouverte par les assiégeants, l’un des se sont graduellement effondrés et ont été recouverts, jusqu’à
lieux historiques les plus significatifs du site. leur découverte dans les années 1960. Il n’y a eu aucun ajout
ni aucune reconstruction (hormis une anastylose acceptable),
Au pied du versant ouest de la colline se trouve une et les matériaux inappropriés utilisés lors des premiers
installation son et lumière, principalement utilisée à des fins projets de conservation sont en cours de remplacement.
éducatives. Certains éléments archéologiques importants, comme les
camps romains et les travaux de siège, demeurent
virtuellement intacts. Le degré d’authenticité est donc très
Conservation et authenticité élevé.

Historique de la conservation Certaines raisons portent à examiner l’intégrité de Massada,

à l’instar de la plupart des sites archéologiques. Comme nous
Ce sont deux voyageurs qui, en 1863, ont pour la première l’avons dit précédemment, rien n’a été ajouté aux vestiges et
fois identifié le site comme Massada. D’autres visiteurs les rien n’en a été enlevé. Tout aussi important, le cadre où
ont suivis, dans la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle et au s’inscrit Massada, le magnifique et sauvage paysage de cette
XXe siècle, notamment les érudits responsables de l’étude de région, n’a pas changé depuis plusieurs milliers d’années.
la Palestine occidentale réalisée par le fonds d’exploration de Les seules intrusions sont les installations destinées aux
la Palestine en 1867 et 1875. visiteurs, qui, sous leur nouvelle forme, ont été conçues et
installées dans une optique de respect de l’endroit, et le
Une étude archéologique limitée a eu lieu en 1955-1956, téléphérique. Ce dernier a toujours prêté, et prête encore, à
parrainée par la société d’exploration d’Israël, l’université controverse. Cependant, l’accès au sommet rocheux est
hébraïque et le département des Antiquités. En 1963-1965, le extrêmement ardu : en l’absence d’assistance, beaucoup de
professeur Yigaël Yadin a réalisé ses célèbres fouilles. Avant Juifs, pour qui ce site possède une immense valeur
même la fin des fouilles, il avait été décidé d’ouvrir le site au symbolique, seraient dans l’incapacité de le visiter. À chaque
public en qualité de parc national ; les travaux de extrémité, les nouvelles installations ont été pensées et, dans
conservation ont immédiatement commencé, et les le cas du terminal supérieur, placées avec soin, de façon à
chercheurs ont quitté les lieux. minimiser leur impact visuel.

Les travaux reposaient sur un plan défini par un comité de

spécialistes, selon les normes en vigueur à l’époque (qui Évaluation
exigeaient l’utilisation de ciment Portland, aujourd’hui
presque intégralement remplacé). Des conservateurs, d’Israël Action de l’ICOMOS
et d’ailleurs, n’ont jamais cessé de travailler sur ce site
depuis cette époque, mettant sans cesse à jour leurs Une mission conjointe d’expertise ICOMOS-UICN s’est
techniques et leur expertise. Sur les cinq dernières années, rendue à Massada en mars 2001.
depuis le début du projet de développement de Massada, la
plupart des édifices de la zone nord ont fait l’objet de Caractéristiques
travaux. En outre, des travaux d’évaluation et d’amélioration
de la stabilité du rocher ont été conduits. Un vaste projet de Massada est un site d’une grande beauté naturelle,
stabilisation et de conservation est en cours sur le palais de s’inscrivant dans un paysage spectaculaire, sur lequel le roi
l’Ouest ; à la tête de l’équipe de réalisation, le professeur de Judée Hérode le Grand a fait ériger un somptueux
John Ashurst (université d’Oxford, Royaume-Uni). complexe palatial de style romain classique. Lorsque la
Judée devint une province de l’empire romain, Massada
devint le refuge des derniers survivants de la révolte juive,
qui choisirent la mort plutôt que l’esclavage lorsque les

150
assiégeants romains percèrent leurs défenses. À ce titre, il Déclaration de valeur
présente une valeur emblématique pour le peuple juif.
Le complexe palatial bâti par Hérode le Grand, roi de Judée,
C’est également un site archéologique d’une grande au sommet du spectaculaire site montagneux de Massada, au
importance. Les vestiges des palais d’Hérode sont des Ier siècle avant notre ère, se compose d’un groupe
exemples exceptionnels et très bien préservés de ce type exceptionnel d’édifices romains classiques. Quand ce site
d’architecture, tandis que les travaux de siège, intacts, sont défensif naturel, encore renforcé par des remparts colossaux,
les plus beaux et les plus complets que l’on puisse trouver fut occupé par des survivants de la révolte juive contre le
dans le monde romain. joug romain, il fut assiégé avec succès par des troupes
romaines nombreuses. Le groupe de camps militaires et de
Analyse comparative travaux de siège de Massada sont les plus complets qui
subsistent dans le monde romain. Massada est un symbole
On compte plusieurs villas romaines impériales datant des poignant de la lutte continue de l’homme contre l’oppression
Ier siècles avant et après notre ère dont subsistent encore des et pour la liberté.
vestiges conséquents. La plus proche de la villa d’Hérode le
Grand à Massada est probablement la Villa Jovis, légèrement
plus récente, construite par Tibère sur un promontoire Recommandation de l’ICOMOS
semblable, sur l’île de Capri. Toutefois, elle s’en écarte sous
plusieurs aspects, et notamment par l’absence de structures Que ce bien soit inscrit sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial
administratives associées et de remparts comme l’on en sur la base des critères culturels iii, iv et vi :
trouve à Massada.
Critère iii Massada est un symbole exceptionnel de
En ce qui concerne les camps militaires romains, le mur de l’ancien royaume juif d’Israël, de sa destruction violente
circonvallation et la rampe d’accès, il n’existe aucun site à la fin du Ier siècle de notre ère, et de la Diaspora qui
comparable à Massada, que ce soit du point de vue de la s’ensuivit.
visibilité ou de l’intégrité.
Critère iv Le palais d’Hérode le Grand à Massada est
Recommandations de l’ICOMOS pour des actions futures un exemple remarquable des villas luxueuses du début
de l’empire romain, alors que le camp et les fortifications
Il convient d’étudier avec attention l’emplacement du autour du monument constituent les travaux de siège
parking pour autocars à l’entrée du site. L’emplacement romains les plus beaux et les plus complets qui subsistent
actuel brise la ligne du mur de circonvallation romain entre à ce jour.
deux forts. Quant à la surface de goudron noir, elle est
intrusive vue de dessus. Critère vi Les événements tragiques qui survinrent
pendant les derniers jours des réfugiés juifs occupant la
S’il existe clairement de bonnes relations entre les groupes forteresse et le palais de Massada en font un symbole de
responsables de la gestion des éléments « culturels » et l’identité culturelle juive mais aussi, plus
« naturels », il serait cependant souhaitable qu’ils s’accordent universellement, du perpétuel combat humain entre
à examiner avec attention leurs objectifs et programmes oppression et liberté.
respectifs, afin de garantir l’homogénéité et d’éviter
d’éventuels conflits.
Recommandation du Bureau

Brève description Que ce bien soit inscrit sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial
sur la base des critères iii, iv et vi.
À Massada, où se sont immolés un millier de Juifs face à la
puissante armée romaine, Hérode le Grand, roi de Judée, a
fait construire un complexe palatial, afin d’en faire son
refuge. Il conserve au sommet de cette forteresse ICOMOS, septembre 2001
apparemment imprenable, au cœur d’un paysage naturel
sauvage d’une grande beauté, des vestiges importants. En
contrebas se trouvent les sites et les travaux de siège encore
non mis au jour de la grande armée romaine.

151
 WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION – IUCN TECHNICAL EVALUATION

MASADA NATIONAL PARK (ISRAEL)

1. DOCUMENTATION

i) IUCN/WCMC Data sheet: (4 references).

ii) Additional literature consulted: Mazor, E. 2001. Masada - Geology and Interrelated
Heritage. Report to Israel Committee for UNESCO and World Heritage Committee; Masada
Management Plan (summary outline), Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority
(January 2001); Israel N&NPPA , 1997. Masada - King’s Stronghold, Zealots’ Refuge. 32pp.
(National Park interpretation book). Israel N&NPPA. Masada - the Northern Palace. 15pp.
(Promotional and fundraising document). Yadin, Y. 1966. Masada - Herod’s Fortress and
Zealots’ Last Stand. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London. (Principal archaeological reference based
on 1963-5 excavations).

iii) Consultations: 4 external reviewers contacted. Onsite consultations with national park director,
senior members of park management team and professional advisers.

iv) Field Visits: March 2001 . Paul Dingwall and an ICOMOS representative.

2. SUMMARY OF NATURAL VALUES

The nominated property is the 276ha Masada National Park (IUCN Management Category II National Park, with
elements of Category V Protected Landscape), located in southern Israel, approximately 18km south of En Gedi,
on the eastern fringe of the Judean Desert. Adjacent to the park is the Judean Desert Nature Reserve (IUCN
Category I), 28,956ha in extent, considered as a buffer zone for the nominated site.

The national park is dominated by Mount Masada, a partially isolated massif overlooking the Dead Sea. Masada
is a fault-bounded uplifted block of the earth’s crust (in geological terms a horst) associated with a down-
thrusted rift valley (graben), occupied here by the Dead Sea. This rift valley is the landward extension of the
huge Syrian-African Rift Valley System, formed along a tectonic plate boundary zone that stretches from the
Indian Ocean, through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eliat.

Rhomboid-shaped, with a flat top some 8ha in extent, Masada stands 100-400m above the surrounding terrain. It
is separated from a large fault escarpment by steep canyons cut by rivers that descend from the Judean plateau to
the Dead Sea. The rocks forming Masada include massive dolomites and limestones of marine origin, forming
near-vertical cliffs, overlying less resistant limestones and chalk. Palaeokarst features occur in the nearby
escarpment walls. West of Masada, is a landscape of hills, terraces and wadis forming the Judean Plateau. To
the east, Masada is bounded by 18-80,000 year-old lacustrine silts, gravels, sandstones and conglomerates of the
Lissan Formation, deposited in a huge lake that existed prior to formation of the Dead Sea.

Towering over the surrounding terrain, Masada is a landscape feature of great scenic attraction. From its
summit, unhindered vistas of largely natural rural landscapes in the surrounding nature reserve, and of the Dead
Sea, also have high scenic value. Although essentially an arid site, the region is a climatic and biogeographic
transition zone, intermixing desert, steppe and Mediterranean elements.

A natural fortress (its name is the Hebrew term for fortress), Masada is the site of fortified palaces built in the 1st
Century BC by the Judean King Herod, and it was the scene of the last stand made by some 1,000 Jewish zealots
in their revolt against Roman rule in the period AD 66-73. The ingenious use of location, topography and
geology, which transformed the site into both an opulent royal palace and a zealots’ fortress, captures the spirit
of the people of Israel who have come to regard Masada as a national shrine. Similarly, it is the uniqueness with
which Masada intimately entwines cultural legacy and its special natural features that captures the imagination of
the modern-day tourists who visit the site.

Masada National Park (Israel) 13

3. COMPARISON WITH OTHER SITES

The nomination document provides no information comparing Masada to other geological sites. Tectonic plate
boundaries, rift valleys and horst-and-graben systems are common geological phenomena in global terms.
Among existing World Heritage sites, rift valley systems are prominent in Lake Malawi National Park (Malawi)
and the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo); Gros Morne National Park (Canada)
reveals plate boundary tectonics in a much more outstanding way, in fact this has been referred to as "a
Galapagos for Plate Tectonics"; Macquarie Island (Australia) is a horst block on the boundary of the Indo-
Australian and Pacific tectonic plates (two of the seven large tectonic plates of the Earth) in the southern ocean;
and Tassili n’Ajjer (Algeria), Aïr and Ténèré Natural Reserves (Niger), and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
(Australia) all display eroded plateaux and escarpments in arid environments. IUCN concludes that Masada is
an important geological site but is not of outstanding universal value. IUCN also notes that the geological values
of the site are already well represented in other World Heritage sites.

4. INTEGRITY

Size and Boundaries

The boundaries of the nominated property, though somewhat arbitrary, are defined according to cultural rather
than natural values. They are drawn to encompass the mountain and the entire surrounding Roman siege system,
comprising eight campsites, a siege-wall and towers, and a large wood and earthen ramp. For purposes of
historic authenticity, the visual integrity of the surrounding terrain in the nature reserve and the rural land is
maintained by prohibiting under State law any construction within view of the mountain summit.

Management

The nominated site is a national park, protected under national conservation and antiquities statutes.
Management responsibility is exercised principally by the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority
(NPA). That agency has planning committees and independent experts to assist in implementing management
and development plans, while matters of national and international interest are subject to public hearings. The
legal and administrative basis for managing the adjacent nature reserve is the same as for the national park. The
area between Masada and the Dead Sea is managed as open space and agricultural land according to a
masterplan under national planning legislation, administered by the regional council.

A park management plan is currently being prepared. A summary outline of the plan reveals it to be
comprehensive in its coverage of management policies and operational plans, with strong underpinning support
from planning, forecasting and research. A conservation development project, begun in 1995, is nearing
completion. This is intended to promote the conservation and enhancement of cultural assets, guide the
implementation of a park interpretation plan, and determine proper levels of visitor services and infrastructure
needs. This project incorporates an impressive series of resource assessments, condition reports, research
investigations, and forecast surveys. The park is well funded through the NPA, with supplementary funding for
visitor services facilities from the Ministry of Tourism. A well-trained staff of 50 is employed, under a park
director and senior management team.

The site is well buffered from external development pressures, and there are currently no activities that are
incompatible with park objectives or that threaten park values. There are no permanent residents in the park or
in the adjacent nature reserve, and the gateway city of Arad (population 25,000) is located 22km away. Pressure
from tourism is considerable, but the capacity to handle current and projected visitor levels appears adequate.
Masada is one of Israel’s most popular tourist venues, receiving about 700,000 visitors per annum. Numbers are
forecast to increase to 1.2 million per annum by 2010. The new visitor centre complex and cable car transport
system are designed to cope with this level of use without compromising park values or the visitor experience.
There is little management intrusion on the site. Rock walls are monitored, and pinned in places, to ensure
public safety in the event of earthquake and rockfall.

5. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

14 Masada National Park (Israel)

The nomination document is primarily devoted to exposition of Masada’s outstanding cultural heritage values,
and it gives far less attention to its natural geological character and landforms.

6. APPLICATION OF CRITERIA

Masada has been nominated as a mixed (cultural and natural) World Heritage site. Its natural values have been
nominated under natural criteria (i) and (iii).

Criterion (i): Earth’s history and geological features

Mount Masada is an impressive landform, but it is neither unique nor outstanding in geological terms. It is a
very small structural feature - a horst block, isolated by secondary faulting and stream erosion from its parent
fault scarp. This huge escarpment, with a local relief of some 1,400m from the plateau summit to the shoreline
of the Dead Sea (400m below sea level) is part of a truly global scale geological phenomenon - a rift valley
system on a tectonic plate boundary extending from Israel for thousands of kilometers to the Indian Ocean and
beyond. With summit dimensions of only 600m x 300m, Mount Masada is but an extremely tiny representation
of this geological system. As such, Masada is of local significance only, and it fails to qualify as being of
outstanding universal value either in geological evolutionary terms or as a geomorphological feature.

However, if Mount Masada is considered together with the surrounding buffer zone the picture changes
somewhat. The adjacent nature reserve to the west incorporates a much larger representation of the uplifted
component (horst) of the rift valley system, while the protected lands east of Masada National Park cover a large
area of the downthrown block (graben). Beyond is the drowned portion of the graben - the Dead Sea. A huge
lake that was the forerunner to the Dead Sea is evidenced by an extensive deposit of lacustrine sediments in the
area between Masada and the Dead Sea. Consideration could, therefore, be given to incorporating the nature
reserve and relevant parts of the open rural lands into the nomination, thereby providing a much more extensive
and holistic geological representation of the rift valley system. This would impart greater geological
significance to the nominated property. However, IUCN considers that such an expanded nomination would still
not meet the criteria or outstanding universal value, for geological features. IUCN also notes that there would be
questions of integrity associated with the incorporation of the open rural lands into any revised nomination.
IUCN considers that the nominated site does not meet this criterion.

Criterion (iii): Superlative natural phenomena or natural beauty and aesthetic importance

Physiographically, Masada is a small and indistinguishable component of a much more prominent landform
feature - a mountainous chain forming the eastern edge of the Judean Desert plateau. This upland is brought into
even sharper focus by being set abruptly against the flat expanse of the Jordan Rift Valley floor. Its setting
within the context of a much grander regional-scale landscape gives Masada special scenic values. Despite
being physically isolated on the escarpment, what really sets Masada apart, and gives it an outstanding aesthetic
quality, is the presence of ancient ruins.

Viewed either from below Mount Masada is an awesome sight. Its summit, affords spectacular vistas of the
surrounding landscape. But its scenic qualities derive from an intimate combination of its physical attributes and
the material remains of human occupation. Masada’s aesthetic appeal, therefore, is the culmination of its natural
character and associated cultural legacy.

Given that Masada is a well-displayed example of past successive human settlement intimately interrelated with
the natural environment, there could be real merit in considering the site as a relict landscape within the World
Heritage category of cultural landscape. IUCN considers that the nominated site does not meet this criterion.

7. RECOMMENDATION

The Bureau did not recommend the inscription of Masada National Park on the World Heritage List under
natural criteria.

The Bureau discussed the possibility of a larger natural site, potentially involving other countries, which would
have to be presented as a new natural nomination.

Masada National Park (Israel) 15

 CANDIDATURE AU PATRIMOINE MONDIAL - ÉVALUATION TECHNIQUE UICN

PARC NATIONAL DE MASADA (ISRAËL)

1. DOCUMENTATION

i) Fiches techniques UICN/WCMC: (4 références)

ii) Littérature consultée: Mazor, E. 2001. Masada - Geology and Interrelated Heritage. Report to
Israel Committee for UNESCO and World Heritage Committee; Masada Management Plan
(summary outline), Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority (January 2001); Israel
N&NPPA , 1997. Masada - King’s Stronghold, Zealots’ Refuge. 32pp. (National Park
interpretation book). Israel N&NPPA. Masada - the Northern Palace. 15pp. (Promotional and
fundraising document). Yadin, Y. 1966. Masada - Herod’s Fortress and Zealots’ Last Stand.
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London. (Principal archaeological reference based on 1963-5
excavations).

iii) Consultations: Quatre évaluateurs indépendants. Consultations sur place avec le Directeur des
parcs nationaux, des cadres de l’équipe de gestion et des conseillers professionnels.

iv) Visite du site: Mars 2001. Paul Dingwall et un représentant de l’ICOMOS

2. RÉSUMÉ DES CARACTÉRISTIQUES NATURELLES

Le site proposé est le Parc national de Masada (Catégorie de gestion II de l’UICN, Parc national, avec des
éléments de la Catégorie V, Paysage protégé), qui couvre 276 hectares dans le sud d’Israël, à environ 18 km au
sud d’En Gedi, sur la frange orientale du désert de Judée. À proximité du Parc, il y a la Réserve naturelle du
désert de Judée (Catégorie UICN I), d’une superficie de 28 956 hectares, qui est considérée comme une zone
tampon pour le site proposé.

Le Parc national est dominé par le mont Masada, un massif partiellement isolé qui surplombe la mer Morte.
Masada est un horst (bloc soulevé de la croûte terrestre entre deux failles), associé à une vallée effondrée entre
deux compartiments soulevés (graben), occupée ici par la mer Morte. La vallée est une extension vers l’intérieur
de l’immense système de Rift Valleys syro-africain, formé sur l’extrémité d’une plaque tectonique qui s’étend de
l’océan Indien jusqu’à la mer Rouge et au golfe d’Elath.

De forme rhomboïdale, avec un sommet plat d’une superficie de huit hectares, le mont Masada domine les
alentours de 100 à 400 mètres. Il est séparé d’un grand escarpement de faille par des canyons profonds creusés
par des rivières qui descendent du plateau de Judée vers la mer Morte. Masada est formé de dolomites massives
et de calcaires d’origine marine formant des falaises quasi verticales et recouvrant des calcaires et des craies
moins résistants. Les parois proches de l’escarpement présentent des caractéristiques paléokarstiques. À l’ouest
de Masada, un paysage de collines, de terrasses et d’oueds forme le plateau de Judée. À l’est, Masada est bordé
par des sédiments lacustres qui ont entre 18 000 et 80 000 ans, des graviers, des grès et des conglomérats de la
formation Lissan déposés dans un grand lac qui a précédé la formation de la mer Morte.

Dominant le paysage alentour, Masada présente des qualités paysagères importantes. Depuis le sommet, la vue
dégagée sur des paysages ruraux essentiellement naturels de la Réserve naturelle et sur la mer Morte présente
aussi une grande valeur esthétique. Bien qu’il s’agisse essentiellement d’un site aride, la région est une zone de
transition climatique et biogéographique où se mélangent des éléments du désert, de la steppe et de la
Méditerranée.

Forteresse naturelle (son nom signifie forteresse en hébreu), Masada possède des palais fortifiés construits au
premier siècle av. J.-C. par le roi Hérode de Judée et a été le siège de la dernière résistance des 1000 zélotes
révoltés contre l’occupation romaine entre 66 et 73 de notre ère. L’utilisation judicieuse de cet emplacement, de
sa topographie et de sa géologie pour construire un palais royal opulent et une citadelle où se réfugièrent les

12 Parc national de Masada (Israël)

zélotes captive l’imagination du peuple d’Israël qui considère Masada comme un sanctuaire national. C’est
également la manière unique dont le patrimoine culturel et les caractéristiques naturelles particulières se mêlent
intimement à Masada qui captive aujourd’hui l’imagination du touriste moderne.

3. COMPARAISON AVEC D’AUTRES SITES

Le document justificatif n’établit aucune comparaison entre Masada et d’autres sites géologiques. À l’échelle
mondiale, les lisières de plaques tectoniques, les Rift Valleys, les horst et les graben sont des phénomènes
géologiques communs. Parmi les biens du patrimoine mondial existants, les Rift Valleys sont spectaculaires dans
le Parc national du lac Malawi (Malawi) et dans le Parc national de Kahuzi-Biega (République démocratique du
Congo); le Parc national Gros Morne (Canada) révèle une tectonique de lisière de plaque beaucoup plus
spectaculaire: le site a même été baptisé «les Galápagos des plaques tectoniques»; l’île Macquarie (Australie) est
un horst limitrophe des plaques tectoniques indo-australienne et pacifique (deux des sept grandes plaques
tectoniques de la Terre) dans l’océan Austral; le Tassili n’Ajjer (Algérie), les Réserves naturelles de l’Aïr et du
Ténéré (Niger) et le Parc national Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Australie) présentent tous des plateaux érodés et des
escarpements en milieu aride. En conclusion, l’UICN estime que Masada est un site géologique important mais
sans valeur universelle exceptionnelle. L’UICN ajoute que les caractéristiques géologiques du site sont déjà bien
représentées dans d’autres biens du patrimoine mondial.

4. INTÉGRITÉ

4.1. Dimensions et limites

Les limites du bien proposé, quelque peu arbitraires, sont définies par des valeurs culturelles plutôt que
naturelles. Elles comprennent la montagne et l’ensemble du système de siège romain avec huit sites de
campement, une muraille et des tours, ainsi qu’une vaste rampe de bois et de terre. Par souci d’authenticité
historique, l’intégrité visuelle du paysage environnant, dans la réserve naturelle et dans la zone rurale, est
maintenue par une interdiction, inscrite dans la loi, de construire dans le périmètre visuel du sommet de la
montagne.

4.2. Gestion

Le bien proposé est un parc national protégé au titre de la Loi sur la conservation de la nature et des antiquités.
La gestion est exercée principalement par l’Autorité israélienne de protection de la nature et des parcs nationaux
(APN). Cette agence dispose de comités de planification et d’experts indépendants qui aident à mettre en œuvre
la gestion et les plans de développement tandis que les questions d’intérêt national et international sont soumises
à consultation publique. La base juridique et administrative de la gestion de la réserve naturelle adjacente est la
même que pour le parc national. La zone qui sépare Masada de la mer Morte est gérée en tant qu’espace ouvert
et terre agricole selon un plan magistral relevant de la Loi de planification nationale administrée par le Conseil
régional.

Un plan de gestion du parc est en préparation. Le résumé du plan révèle qu’il sera complet du point de vue des
politiques de gestion et des plans opérationnels et bénéficiera d’une assise solide en matière de planification,
prévision et recherche. Un projet de conservation et de développement a été entamé en 1995 et sera bientôt
terminé. Le but est de promouvoir la conservation et d’améliorer les qualités culturelles, d’orienter la mise en
œuvre d’un plan d’interprétation du parc et de déterminer le niveau approprié des besoins en services
touristiques et infrastructure. Le projet comprend une série impressionnante d’évaluations des ressources, de
rapports sur l’état du site, de travaux de recherche et d’enquêtes prévisionnelles. Le parc est bien financé, par
l’intermédiaire de l’APN, et le ministère du Tourisme apporte des ressources supplémentaires pour les services
d’accueil des visiteurs. Le parc emploie un personnel bien formé de 50 personnes, dirigé par un directeur et un
comité de gestion.

Le site est bien protégé des pressions extérieures du développement et il n’y a pas, pour l’instant, d’activités
incompatibles avec les objectifs du parc ou menaçant les valeurs du parc. Il n’y a pas de résidents permanents
dans le parc ou dans la réserve naturelle adjacente et la ville d’Arad (25 000 habitants) se situe à 22 km de là.
Les pressions du tourisme sont considérables mais la capacité d’accueillir le nombre de visiteurs, actuel et prévu,
semble adéquate. Masada est un des lieux touristiques les plus populaires d’Israël et reçoit environ 700 000
visiteurs chaque automne. Ces chiffres devraient augmenter jusqu’à 1,2 million par année d’ici à 2010. Le

Parc national de Masada (Israël) 13

nouveau complexe pour les visiteurs et le système de transport par téléphérique sont conçus pour répondre à ce
niveau d’utilisation sans compromettre les valeurs du parc ou l’expérience des touristes. Il y a très peu
d’interventions de gestion dans le site. Les parois rocheuses sont surveillées et renforcées par endroits pour
garantir la sécurité du public en cas de tremblement de terre ou de chute de pierres.

5. AUTRES COMMENTAIRES

Le document justificatif est essentiellement consacré aux valeurs exceptionnelles de patrimoine culturel de
Masada et beaucoup moins détaillé en ce qui concerne les caractéristiques géologiques naturelles et la
topographie.

6. APPLICATION DES CRITÈRES

Masada est proposé en tant que bien mixte (culturel et naturel) du patrimoine mondial. Pour les valeurs
naturelles, les critères naturels (i) et (iii) ont été invoqués.

Critère (i): histoire de la terre et processus géologiques

Le mont Masada est une forme de relief impressionnante mais elle n’est ni unique ni exceptionnelle du point de
vue géologique. C’est une très petite structure – un horst isolé par des failles secondaires et l’érosion de sa faille
parentale. Ce grand escarpement, avec un relief local d’environ 1400 mètres depuis le sommet du plateau
jusqu’aux berges de la mer Morte (à 400 m au-dessous du niveau de la mer) fait partie d’un phénomène
géologique d’échelle réellement mondiale – un système de rift sur une plaque tectonique qui s’étend, à partir
d’Israël, sur des milliers de kilomètres jusqu’à l’océan Indien et au-delà. Les dimensions du sommet (600 x 300
mètres) font que le mont Masada n’est qu’un élément extrêmement minuscule de ce système géologique et n’a
donc qu’une importance locale. Il n’a aucune valeur universelle exceptionnelle, que ce soit du point de vue de
l’évolution géologique ou de ses caractéristiques géomorphologiques.

Toutefois, si l’on considère le mont Masada avec la zone tampon environnante, l’image change quelque peu. À
l’ouest, la réserve naturelle adjacente comprend une représentation beaucoup plus vaste de l’élément soulevé
(horst) du système de rift tandis que les terres protégées à l’est du Parc national de Masada couvrent une vaste
superficie de blocs effondrés (graben). Au-delà, se trouve la portion immergée du graben – la mer Morte. La
présence du vaste lac qui a précédé la formation de la mer Morte est évidente dans les importants dépôts de
sédiments lacustres que l’on trouve dans la région séparant Masada de la mer Morte. On pourrait, en
conséquence, envisager d’incorporer la réserve naturelle et les parties pertinentes des terres rurales ouvertes dans
la proposition, ce qui fournirait une représentation géologique beaucoup plus vaste et plus complète du système
de rift. Cette mesure renforcerait l’importance géologique du bien proposé. Cependant, l’UICN considère que
cette proposition ne remplirait pas non plus les critères et ne donnerait pas de valeur universelle exceptionnelle
aux caractéristiques géologiques. L’UICN ajoute que des questions d’intégrité se poseraient si l’on intégrait des
terres rurales ouvertes dans une proposition révisée. L’UICN considère que le site proposé ne remplit pas ce
critère.

Critère (iii): phénomènes naturels éminemment remarquables ou de beauté exceptionnelle

D’un point physiographique, Masada est un élément petit et impossible à distinguer d’une caractéristique
topographique beaucoup plus importante – une chaîne de montagnes qui forme l’extrémité est du plateau du
désert de Judée. Ce haut plateau est, en outre, mis en valeur par l’étendue plate de la vallée du Jourdain. Son
emplacement, dans le contexte d’un paysage d’échelle régionale beaucoup plus vaste donne à Masada des
valeurs panoramiques spéciales. Même s’il est isolé sur l’escarpement, ce qui ajoute un élément particulier à
Masada et lui donne sa qualité esthétique exceptionnelle, c’est la présence de ruines anciennes.

Vu d’en bas, le mont Masada est impressionnant. Le sommet offre un panorama spectaculaire sur le paysage
environnant. Mais ses qualités paysagères proviennent d’une association intime des caractéristiques physiques et
des vestiges matériels de l’occupation humaine. L’attrait esthétique de Masada provient donc de l’association des
caractéristiques naturelles et culturelles.

14 Parc national de Masada (Israël)

Étant donné que Masada est un bon exemple d’établissements humains successifs en harmonie étroite avec le
milieu naturel, il serait sans doute justifié d’évaluer le site en tant que paysage relique dans la catégorie des
paysages culturels du patrimoine mondial. L’UICN considère que le site proposé ne remplit pas ce critère.

7. RECOMMANDATION

Le Bureau n’a pas recommandé l’inscription du Parc national de Masada sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial.

Le Bureau a discuté de la possibilité de proposer un plus grand site naturel, éventuellement avec d’autres pays, et
qui devrait faire l’objet d’une nouvelle proposition e site naturel.

Parc national de Masada (Israël) 15