Most of Israel was like that in 1947-1948. Lots of sand, swamp, ruined land, for which the Jews paid dearly, with all the duly signed and recorded paperwork necessary.
Much like the Cave of Machpelah and the Temple Mount, both of which were legal real-estate transactions in which the buyer, seller, price paid, and description of the property were meticulously recorded...in the Holy Bible!
God Bless America.
God Bless Israel.
You’re right, though that was 1908