“Sign pollution.” Name-bearing stones in forests

The most common commemorative form placed in Israeli forests over the years has been the standardised JNF stone inscribed with the names of the commemorated and/or donors. Ubiquitous yet almost invisible to the general public, these stones – with their large numbers and enduring material presence – have become an integral component of the local forest experience. Using their origins as a point of departure, this chapter explores the practical, symbolic, and material concerns raised by their omnipresence in Israeli forests. They are examined as an example of the interplay among different levels of memory culture, as well as an outcome of institutional politics, including the link between commemoration and recognition. Left on forest grounds for years, the stones undergo destruction by both human and nonhuman forces. Their management is discussed in the light of the broader crisis of heritage accumulation and in relation to other commonly encountered forest stones – remnants of the depopulated Palestinian villages.