Archaeology and Heritage in KKL–JNF Sites

As part of its stewardship of Israel's open landscapes, KKL–JNF is committed to preserving, developing, and making accessible archaeological and heritage sites throughout the country. These landscapes contain the remains of ancient settlements, agricultural installations, public buildings, and other archaeological sites that tell the story of human life in the Land of Israel across thousands of years.

Working in partnership with archaeologists, conservation specialists, and public agencies, KKL–JNF helps conserve these sites, develop their surroundings, and prepare them to welcome visitors. The goal is to safeguard Israel's cultural heritage while enabling people to experience it within the natural landscapes where history unfolded. The Huqoq Archaeological Site is an outstanding example of this approach.

Huqoq is located within Ami'ad Forest, part of the Galilee region managed by KKL–JNF. At its heart flows Huqoq Spring, around which settlement and agriculture flourished for centuries. As the site continues to be developed, visitors will be able to walk through the remains of the ancient village, discover the community that once lived here, and experience the unique meeting point of archaeology, nature, and landscape.

Meet KKL–JNF

Founded in 1901 by the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL–JNF) was established as the national fund of the Jewish people to acquire land in the Land of Israel.

Supported by donations from Jewish communities around the world, KKL–JNF acquired approximately 2.6 million dunams (about 640,000 acres) of land and played a central role in preparing it for settlement and agriculture. Through these efforts, it became one of the key institutions involved in the development of the modern State of Israel.

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The History of KKL–JNF
KKL–JNF Through the Decades

Building the Landscape of Modern Israel

Following the establishment of the State of Israel, KKL–JNF continued its work by preparing land for new communities, building roads, developing water resources, and carrying out large-scale afforestation projects. Over the decades, it has planted more than 240 million trees, helping transform much of Israel's landscape.

Today, KKL–JNF manages approximately one million dunams of forests, together with extensive areas of natural woodland and grazing land. It also operates one of Israel's largest forest fire prevention and response systems.

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Forests and Trees

Water, Agriculture, and Regional Development

KKL–JNF continues to strengthen agriculture and rural communities throughout Israel, particularly in the country's peripheral regions. It is a major supporter of agricultural research and development and plays an important role in managing Israel's water resources.

The approximately 250 reservoirs built by KKL–JNF supply nearly one-third of the water used for Israeli agriculture.

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Maps and Information on KKL–JNF Projects

Nature, Recreation, and Public Access

KKL–JNF develops and maintains Israel's open landscapes for public enjoyment. It has created approximately 1,000 picnic areas, scenic roads, cycling trails, and hiking paths, all freely accessible to visitors.

Its work also includes protecting open spaces, restoring streams, conserving soils, combating desertification, monitoring ecosystems, and preserving wetlands. Scientific research in forestry, desert afforestation, and renewable energy has made KKL–JNF one of Israel's leading organizations addressing climate change and environmental sustainability.

Working with local authorities, government ministries, and environmental organizations, KKL–JNF also develops regional climate adaptation programs and promotes sustainable management of Israel's natural landscapes.

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KKL–JNF and the Community
Science, Environment, Water, and Streams
KKL–JNF and the Environment

Education and the Global Jewish Community

Education has long been a central part of KKL–JNF's mission. The organization supports formal and informal educational programs throughout Israel and the Jewish diaspora, promotes environmental awareness, strengthens youth movements and pre-military leadership academies, and operates educational centers that encourage excellence and community engagement.

With offices in approximately 45 countries, KKL–JNF also serves as a bridge between Israel and Jewish communities around the world, fostering enduring connections to the land, its heritage, and the ideals of Zionism.

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The Blue Box
The KKL–JNF Books of Honor (including the Hall of Books of Honor in Jerusalem)
The KKL–JNF Stamp Collection

Bridging Nature and History

Preserving and Developing Archaeological Heritage with KKL–JNF

KKL–JNF works to preserve, develop, and maintain archaeological and heritage sites located within the forests and open landscapes under its stewardship. These sites tell the story of thousands of years of human history while forming an integral part of Israel's natural environment.

Working in partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority, KKL–JNF supports archaeological excavations at numerous sites across the country, assisted by hundreds of volunteers from Israel and around the world. Its work extends well beyond excavation, encompassing conservation of archaeological remains, landscape planning, environmental development, visitor infrastructure, and public accessibility.

Over the past several decades, KKL–JNF has helped preserve and open to the public a wide variety of archaeological sites. These include ancient agricultural installations such as wine and olive presses, cisterns, wells, storage caves, columbaria, burial caves, and underground hiding systems, as well as public buildings including ancient synagogues, churches, fortresses, and villages that span many periods of the country's history.

Through these projects, visitors are able to explore landscapes where archaeology, history, and nature remain closely intertwined.

Connecting Past, Present, and Future

KKL–JNF is far more than Israel's national forestry organization. It is also a leading partner in the preservation, development, and public presentation of archaeological and heritage sites throughout the country.

By bringing together forests, landscapes, archaeology, and history, KKL–JNF helps safeguard the cultural heritage of the Land of Israel while making it meaningful and accessible for future generations. Through direct encounters with authentic archaeological sites, visitors of all ages can connect with the many communities that have shaped this landscape over thousands of years.

The partnership between KKL–JNF and the Israel Antiquities Authority at Huqoq reflects this shared vision: protecting both the archaeological site and its surrounding natural environment so that they may continue to be experienced together for generations to come.

As Israeli statesman Yigal Allon once wrote: "A people who do not know their past have a poor present, and their future is shrouded in uncertainty."

Until the Huqoq Archaeological Site opens to the public, we invite you to discover its remarkable story at the "Secrets of Huqoq" exhibition at the Yigal Allon Centre on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where many of the site's most extraordinary discoveries can already be experienced.