Dialogues in Heritage Science: Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa

November 3, 2015

Friday, November 13th, 2015 at 2:00 PM
Location: Environmental Science Center, 1st Floor, Lecture Hall 110
21 Sachem Street

Host: Prof. Dr. Stefan Simon

Contact: laurie.batza@yale.edu

Abstract: The rich archaeological resources of the Middle East and North Africa are under increasing threat from massive and sustained population explosion, agricultural development, urban expansion, warfare, and looting, which is ongoing in some areas on an industrial scale now. Supported by the Arcadia Foundation the “Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa”, based at Oxford University in collaboration with the University of Leicester, started in January 2015. The project will provide information required to improve the conservation of threatened sites and landscapes, as well as tools and technology to access and disseminate this information rapidly. Important partners range from national agencies in individual countries to the International Committee for the Blue Shield, NATO, UNESCO and the British Museum. This talk will explore the reasons for the project and its approach, and highlight the results to date.

Biography: Dr. Robert Bewley, Director of the EAMENA Project, Oxford University trained as an archaeologist BA, MPhil and PhD. He worked for the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (specializing in aerial archaeology). Prior to directing the EAMENA project Robert Bewley was the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Director of Operations from May 2007 to December 2014. Previously he was Regional Director for English Heritage in the South West.