From Urkesh to Mozan. The itinerary of a project in wartime
From Urkesh to Mozan. The itinerary of a project in wartime

Author(s): Giorgio Buccellati
Subject(s): Archaeology, Ancient World
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: community archaeology; public archaeology; Syrian archaeology; Urkesh; Tell Mozan; Urkesh Extended Project; territorial legacy; site conservation; site presentation; signage; war tourism
Summary/Abstract: Building on a long experience with community engagementin prewar times, the Urkesh Extended Project has faced theproblems caused by the current war in Syria by expanding therange of its activities and involving on many different levelsthe local communities. Here I touch first on a theoreticalconsideration: the notion of territorial legacy as linking themodern with the ancient inhabitants of the area of ancientUrkesh. I then illustrate two particular aspects of our work,namely, conservation and site presentation: both continuedunabated during the war, and were even expanded. The responseof the local people has been a major measure of success, withlarge numbers of visitors still coming to the site for a surprisingform of war tourism.

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