Israeli Burning Man festival torches ancient remains
The Israeli Antiquities Authority says revelers at a Burning Man festival famous for its pyrotechnic spectacles have accidentally torched some remnants of prehistoric man.
Archaeologist Yoram Haimi says organizers of Midburn, an Israeli affiliate of the Nevada carnival, burned a wooden temple Saturday on a hilltop scattered with flint tools from the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.
The site was discovered 30 years ago by an Israeli archaeologist. The area is not marked with signs and it is hard to see the ancient remains. He says the extent of the damage is unclear.
Midburn spokesman Eyal Marcus said the festival was unaware of any sensitive sites at the location, and that antiquities officials only approached organizers in the middle of the festival. He also provided an official antiquities authority map that showed no archaeological sites at the location of the festival.
"I'm sorry if there was a misunderstanding," Marcus said. "We are going to check what happened and make sure that this doesn't happen again."
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In this Wednesday, June 4, 2014 file photo, an Israeli man walks in the playa during Israel's first Midburn festival, modeled after the popular Burning Man festival held annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, in the desert near the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. On Thursday, May 28, 2015, the Israeli Antiquities Authority said revelers at a Burning Man festival famous for its pyrotechnic spectacles have accidentally torched some remnants of prehistoric man. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) -
In this Thursday, June 5, 2014 file photo, people walk in the dusty playa during Israel's first Midburn festival, modeled after the popular Burning Man festival held annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, in the desert near the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. On Thursday, May 28, 2015, the Israeli Antiquities Authority said revelers at a Burning Man festival famous for its pyrotechnic spectacles have accidentally torched some remnants of prehistoric man. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) -
In this Thursday, June 5, 2014 file photo, Israelis kiss at a party during Israel's first Midburn festival, modeled after the popular Burning Man festival held annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, in the desert near the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. On Thursday, May 28, 2015, the Israeli Antiquities Authority said revelers at a Burning Man festival famous for its pyrotechnic spectacles have accidentally torched some remnants of prehistoric man. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) -
In this Friday, June 6, 2014 file photo, Israeli acrobats perform during Israel's first Midburn festival, modeled after the popular Burning Man festival held annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, in the desert near the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. On Thursday, May 28, 2015, the Israeli Antiquities Authority said revelers at a Burning Man festival famous for its pyrotechnic spectacles have accidentally torched some remnants of prehistoric man. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
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