Kedem was founded by Dr. Alon Shavit, who serves as its director. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Shavit has pioneered in introducing changes in a number of areas: establishing the position of archaeological consultant in the private sector; opening up the Israeli market in the age of competition; establishing the first leading university body to compete with the Antiquities Authority; consolidating the archaeological community in Israel to influence public policy; and running complex and complicated archaeological projects. 

CV – Dr. Alon Shavit

1980 - 1983                Army service

1984 - 1987                BA, Archaeology and Land of Israel Studies, Haifa University

1985 - Present           Senior guide with the Geographical Society

1985 - 1987                Tour Guide course, Tourism School

1988 - 1992                MA, Archaeology, Tel-Aviv University

1990 - 1991                Director of archaeological survey, pre–planning of the City of Modi'in

1990 - 1994                Chief archaeologist, Central district and Tel-Aviv District, Israel Antiquities Authority

1994 - 1997                Director of the archaeological project of the Cross-Israel Highway; conducted
                                      pre-planning survey, working with planning committees to the National Council, coordinated
                                      rescue excavations along the route.

1994 - Present           Archaeological consultant to the Israeli Public Works Department (Ma'atz), to the
                                      Housing Ministry, and other public and private organizations.  

1994 - 2004                Lecturer and guide, Tourism School

1995 - 1997                 Lecturer, Archaeology Department, Tel-Aviv University

1997 - 2001                Director, "Ramot Archaeology" - the business subsidiary of the Archaeology Institute,
                                      Tel-Aviv University.

1999 - Present           Archaeological consultant to Derech Eretz, Azorim, Netivei Hayovel, Africa-Israel Group,
                                      Moriah, IMB, and other companies.

2002 - Present           CEO, Israeli Institute of Archaeology.

2002 - 2009                Chairman, communal committee of Ganei Hadar (Municipal board until 2005)

2003 - Present           PhD, Archaeology, Tel-Aviv University. Dissertation: "Settlement patterns in Israel’s
                                                          southern coastal plain during the Iron Age II"  

2005 - Present           Archaeological consultant, Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Museum of Tolerance
                                      in Jerusalem.

2005 - 2009                Chairman, Ganei Hadar Local Committee, and member of the general assembly of
                                      the Gezer Regional Council.

2007 - 2009                Member of the Gezer Planning and Construction Committee.