Israel Exploration Society

The society was founded in April 1913, with David Yellin as president and A. Brawer as secretary. It was called "The Jewish Society for the Exploration of Eretz-Israel and its Antiquities" in Hebrew and the "Jewish Palestine Exploration Society" in English. Due to the advent of WWI and other reasons, the society folded without conducting any excavations or publishing any reports. In November 1920, the same group of people founded the society again, changing "Jewish" to "Hebrew" in its Hebrew name but keeping the English name.

During the period of the British Mandate, the society was responsible for the first archaeological excavations ever conducted by a Jewish organization in Palestine, at Hamat Tiberias, where Nahum Slouschz discovered a Late Roman to Byzantine-period synagogue. Other digs were carried out at Absalom's Tomb, around Jerusalem's Old City walls, Ramat Rachel, Beit She'arim and Tel Bet Yerah.

Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the IES received the first excavation permit issued by the Israeli government allowing it to excavate at Tell Qasile. Since then, the IES has organised and sponsored some of the most important archaeological projects carried out in the country including Tel Hazor, Masada, the excavations in Jerusalem near the Temple Mount, in the Jewish Quarter, and at the City of David, the Judean Desert Expeditions, En-Gedi, Tel Arad, Lachish, Aphek, Jericho, Herodium, Yoqneam, Dor and Tel Megiddo.

IES is a public organization whose work consists of the organization and sponsoring of archaeological projects, publication of periodicals and excavation reports, and the running of professional conferences.