A CHALLENGING ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT

This paper presents the conception, organization, and methodological framework of the Hagia Polis Project, the archaeological investigation conducted within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It discusses the scientific, logistical, and institutional challenges of excavating one of Christianity's most sacred and continuously used monuments, where archaeological research had to be integrated with conservation works, liturgical activities, and the requirements of the Status Quo. Particular emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary approach adopted by the project, combining archaeology, history, philology, archaeometry, digital documentation, and environmental sciences. The paper also outlines the project's documentation strategy and collaborative methodology, establishing the foundations for the interpretation of the archaeological evidence presented in the following volumes.