Ancient remains torched at Midburn

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.

Revelers watch the wood installations burn at the second annual Midburn festival, the Israeli version of Burning Man, on May 24, 2015. (Ben Kelmer/Flash90)
Revelers watch the wood installations burn at the second annual Midburn festival, the Israeli version of Burning Man, on May 24, 2015. (Ben Kelmer/Flash90)

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.

Eyal Marcus, Midburn spokesman, says antiquities officials only approached organizers in the middle of the festival.

“We are sorry,” Marcus says. “One of our principles is ‘leave no trace.’ We are not for destroying.”

AP

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