The biblical archaeologist finding the victims Hamas burned

Bodies have been reduced to ash. Entire families are wiped out. Dismembered limbs are jumbled together

By Wendell Steavenson

Two weeks after the Hamas invasion of Israel, Moshe Ajami (below), deputy director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, received a call from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) asking for help. Ajami has built a career meticulously unearthing layers of biblical archaeology. Now his expertise in identifying charred and disintegrated remains was required to find bodies in the burnt-out houses on the kibbutzim which Hamas overran on October 7th.

Explore more

More from 1843 magazine

1843 magazine | How to get rich (Taylor’s version)

Think you know the story of how Taylor Swift took on the music industry? The reality is more complicated

1843 magazine | Secrets of a ransomware negotiator

When the gangs of the dark web come, most people panic. This man runs rings around them


1843 magazine | The cruise that will get you chased by the Chinese coastguard

China is bullying its rivals in the South China Sea. For some tourists, that makes it a perfect holiday destination


1843 magazine | Marwan Barghouti, the world’s most important prisoner

There’s one Palestinian who could help end the conflict. He’s in an Israeli jail

1843 magazine | Donald Trump: messiah or naughty boy?

After an assassination attempt, many Republicans see their nominee as the resurrection and the life