The excavation of ancient burials has, however, become a controversial subject in this country. In 1992, the Court ruled that burials were indeed antiquities, and could be excavated in the course of a licensed archaeological dig. The transfer should preferably take place at the excavation site. The IAA closely follows detailed regulations concerning excavtions of tombs and the bones exposed therein. All the skeletal remains discovered in IAA rescue excavations are delivered to the Ministry of Religious Affairs for reburial as early as possible.
Chance finds occur very often.
Thousands of burials are discovered each year in the course of licensed rescue excavations. Data is recorded, studied and later published in detailed excavation reports, as required by law. Rescue excavations bring to light anthropological, archaeological and historical data. Bones, if found, are properly reburied by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The only alternative to scientific excavations is the total destruction of the burial sites by development and construction works.