“Maternal Exhumations” by Dima Srouji reflects on the deeply intertwined relationship between Palestinian women and the land through the lens of archaeological practices, displacement, and memory. The essay explores the labor of Palestinian women, who historically have been involved in excavations in Palestine, performing the delicate task of unearthing fragments of their heritage. Their connection to the land is profound, as they not only engage with physical objects but with the emotional and spiritual traces left behind in the soil. The text juxtaposes the practices of Palestinian women with the colonial methods of excavation conducted by foreign archaeologists, highlighting the violence embedded in the removal of these objects from their rightful context.

Srouji reflects on the personal significance of these objects, which include ancient artifacts, deities, and relics such as those of Astarte. She delves into how these relics are not merely historical objects but living symbols of Palestinian identity, cultural survival, and resilience. The displaced artifacts—often removed and stored in Western museums—carry with them the weight of colonialism and the violence of the separation from their rightful land and people.

The essay also touches on the cyclical nature of the excavation and memory, drawing parallels between the act of exhumation and the maternal role of nurturing and caring for the living and the dead. Palestinian women, as protectors of cultural memory, continue the act of remembrance through their labor, connecting the past with the present. Through this narrative, Srouji brings attention to the importance of reclaiming both material culture and intangible memories, asserting the necessity for a new framework for understanding the relationship between people, land, and the objects that define their history.