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1. Bibliography on Urkesh/E-Library
This list displays in alphabetical order the authors of the contributions mentioned in the following list (each number links to a singular contribution).
For further information about conservation and preservation of heritage at Urkesh, see the following pages: Conservation; Preservation; Reconstruction.
Cf. also the dedicated topical book on “CONSERVATION”.
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Alphabetical List
Agnew, Neville: 1; 2; 3
Angeli, Beatrice: 1
Barozzi, Marta: 1
Bonetti, Sophie: 1; 2; 3
Bridgland, Janet: 1
Buccellati, Federico: 1; 2; 3
Buccellati, Giorgio: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21
Castelletti, Lanfredo: 1; 2
Chiari, Giacomo: 1; 2
Dell’Unto, Nicoló: 1
Demas, Martha: 1; 2
Ermidoro, Stefania: 1; 2; 3
Forte, Maurizio: 1
Kelly-Buccellati, Marilyn: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7
Mahmoud, Yasmine: 1; 2; 3
Moualla, Yara: 1
Palumbo, Gaetano: 1
Pecorella, Paolo Emilio: 1; 2
Pfälzner: 1; 2
Qassar, Hiba: 1; 2
Stanley Price, Nicholas: 1
Viscuso, Salvatore: 1
Zanelli, Alessandra: 1
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Bibliographical entries
The following entries are displayed in chronological order; you can easily find above the publications listed in alphabetical order.
|
1995 |
“Excavation and Conservation,” in N. Stanley Price (ed.), Conservation on Archeological Excavations, Rome: ICCROM, pp. 1-9. See full text See full volume A programmatic document for both “immovable” and movable items. [gB – December 2005] |
|
1999 |
Buccellati, Giorgio and Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati (eds) Urkesh and the Hurrians. A volume in Honor of Lloyd Cotsen. A Slide Atlas. Photographic Data Sets 2. Malibu: Undena Publications, 1999. PDS 2 represents a companion volume to UMS 3, providing many colour pictures (numbered as 'Slides') illustrating many aspects discussed in the aforementioned volume. As for conservations, Slide 10 displays the wrapping of the walls of the AK Royal Building. [mDP – June 2020] |
|
2000 |
“Urkesh: archeologia, conservazione e restauro,” Kermes 13, pp. 41-48. See full text See abstract Restoration techniques newly developed at Tell Mozan for the conservation of ancient buildings are here presented and discussed, underlining the usefulness of this system both for scholars studying the site and for visitors or tourists visiting its ancient remains. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2000 |
“The Royal Palace of Urkesh. Report on the 12th Season at Tell Mozan/Urkesh: Excavations in Area AA, June-October 1999,” Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft zu Berlin 132, pp. 133-183. See full text See abstract Area AA (the Royal Palace) at Urkesh has been further investigated in the 12th season, in 1999; the results of this archaeological campaign are reported herewith: the finding on sealings of the name of Tar’am-Agade (Naram-Sin's daughter); the investigations in Area C2 with the discovery of a sealings cache; the interpretation of an iwan structure as a possible scribal installation; the description of some structures on the exterior of the palace; the excavation in the residential quarters of the time of the 'Bitumen Use Ceramic Tradition'; a clay statuette of a female figure is introduced; a paragraph is devoted to the description of the main ceramic typologies; eventually, computer network and digital photography, together with conservation strategies are presented. As for conservations, paragraph 12 (by S. Bonetti) describes the new conservation laboratory [for which see Urkesh website, under Laboratory], underlining the role of specialists, the renewed lab itself, and the organization of the conservation activities. Paragraph 13 (by A. Ali) presents the strategies applied for architectural conservation, with the following aims: a) to protect the walls; b) to create a non-intrusive system of covering; c) to give a real perception of the walls; d) to guarantee a easy-removable covering structure. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2001 |
Sophie Bonetti (ed.), Gli Opifici di Urkesh. Conservazione e restauro a Tell Mozan. Bibliotheca Mesopotamica 27. Malibu: Undena Publications, 2001. Index The volume Gli Opifici di Urkesh contains the proceedings of a Round Table held in Florence on November 23, 1999, devoted to the subject of conservation and restoration at Tell Mozan, ancient Urkesh, in northeastern Syria. The first part describes the role of the institutions that participate in the project: the 'Opificio delle Pietre Dure' of Florence has joined the Mozan/Urkesh Archaeological Project in order to provide a full fledged technical support, while the excavations provide the students of the Opificio with an opportunity for intense exposure to the vicissitudes of field work. The second part provides an overview of the historical, architectural and artifactual context, from which both the conservation laboratory and the activity of the field school receive their full justification. The third part contains special studies on critical aspects of the conservation and restoration activities, in particular techniques of artifact preservation in the field, a new system for the conservation of mudbrick walls, special uses of digital photography and three-dimensional rendering of the architecture, and functional uses of conservation. Besides regular members of the Urkesh staff, other authors represented include C. Acidini, G. Bonsanti, M. Michelucci, B. Angeli, P. Pfäalzner, P.E. Pecorella, G. Chiari, L. Castelletti. It is edited by S. Bonetti, Director of the Urkesh Conservation Laboratory. As for conservations, Section 3 offers many contributions on this topic: Chapter 7 (by Beatrice Angeli and Sophie Bonetti) describes the conservation methodology on the field; Chapter 8 (by Peter Pfälzner) discusses the functional use of conservation, explaining how to reconstruct an ancient archaeological context (e.g., a room) from the evidence of a single sherd (in a dynamic which can be summarized as follows: 'Sherds > Jars > Rooms'); Chapter 9 (by Giorgio Buccellati) focuses on the architectural conservation of mudbrick structures; Chapter 10 (by Federico Buccellati) explores the use of digital photography as an useful instrument for conservation purposes; Chapter 11 (by Paolo Emilio Pecorella, Lanfredo Castelletti, and Giacomo Chiari) traces some conclusions deriving from the aforementioned chapters. [mDP – June 2020] |
|
2001 |
“Gli Opifici di Urkesh,” in Sophie Bonetti (ed.), Gli Opifici di Urkesh. Conservazione e restauro a Tell Mozan. Bibliotheca Mesopotamica 27. Malibu: Undena Publications, pp. 62-68. Chapter 7 (by Beatrice Angeli and Sophie Bonetti) describes the conservation methodology on the field. [mDP – June 2020] |
|
2001 |
“Digital Photography and Architectural Modeling as Elements of Conservation,” in Sophie Bonetti (ed.), Gli Opifici di Urkesh. Conservazione e restauro a Tell Mozan. Bibliotheca Mesopotamica 27. Malibu: Undena Publications, pp. 83-88. Chapter 10 (by Federico Buccellati) explores the use of digital photography as an useful instrument for conservation purposes. [mDP – June 2020] |
|
2001 |
“Dai mattoni all'architettura,” in Sophie Bonetti (ed.), Gli Opifici di Urkesh. Conservazione e restauro a Tell Mozan. Bibliotheca Mesopotamica 27. Malibu: Undena Publications, pp. 77-82. Chapter 9 (by Giorgio Buccellati) focuses on the architectural conservation of mudbrick structures. [mDP – June 2020] |
|
2001 |
“Sheltering an Archaeological Structure in Petra. A Case-study of Criteria, Concepts, and Implementation,” Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites 5, pp. 35-44. “In 1993 an architectural competition for the construction of a shelter over a Byzantine church excavated in Petra between 1991 and 1992 was held by the American Center of Oriental Research in Amman, Jordan. While a prize was awarded, none of the concepts presented were translated into a construction project. A contract was instead awarded to architect Robert Shutler, who worked in close cooperation with Jordanian and international archaeologists and heritage managers, and a reversible space-frame shelter was built. This paper examines the issue of defining criteria for shelter construction, and stresses the need for cooperation among stakeholders and specialists as part of the conservation process from the decision to shelter to the implementation of the project” (author's abstract on Academia.edu). Assessment of the checkered history of a broad base shelter project. The surprising outcome of a competition was that two first prizes were awarded, but no commission was given for implementation. [gB – December 2005] [mDP – April 2020] |
|
2001 |
“Commenti e dibattito,” in Sophie Bonetti (ed.), Gli Opifici di Urkesh. Conservazione e restauro a Tell Mozan. Bibliotheca Mesopotamica 27. Malibu: Undena Publications, pp. 89-102. Chapter 11 (by Paolo Emilio Pecorella, Lanfredo Castelletti, and Giacomo Chiari) traces some conclusions deriving from the previous chapters 7-10 (see supra). [mDP – June 2020] |
|
2001 |
“The Functional Use of Conservation: from Sherds to Jars to Rooms,” in Sophie Bonetti (ed.), Gli Opifici di Urkesh. Conservazione e restauro a Tell Mozan. Bibliotheca Mesopotamica 27. Malibu: Undena Publications, pp. 69-76. Chapter 8 (by Peter Pfälzner) discusses the functional use of conservation, explaining how to reconstruct an ancient archaeological context (e.g., a room) from the evidence of a single sherd (in a dynamic which can be summarized as follows: 'Sherds > Jars > Rooms'). [mDP – June 2020] |
|
2003 |
“Conservation at the Core of Archaeological Strategy: The Case of Ancient Urkesh at Tell Mozan,” Conservation, The Getty Conservation Institute Newsletter 18, pp. 18-21. See full text Alternative online version See abstract A new concept of 'conservation' is presented in this paper, describing innovative conservation technique adopted at Tell Mozan. To fulfil this goal, a strict relationship and collaboration between archaeologists, restorers and conservation is developed. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2004 |
“Monitoring through Replication. Design and Evaluation of the Monitoring Reburial at the Laetoli Trackway Site,”
Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, pp. 295-304. See full text See abstract This contribution aims to answer to a basic methodological question: “How is it possible to monitor the condition of a site or artefact after it has been reburied?” (p. 295). [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2005 |
“The Tell Mozan/Urkesh Archaeological Project: an Integrated Approach of Spatial Technologies,” in Maurizio Forte (ed.), The Reconstruction of Archaeological Landscapes through Digital Technologies, Oxford: BAR International, pp. 171-183. See full text See abstract Archeological structures and remains in general can be currently investigated thanks to modern technologies leading to a better analysis and recording of the data (within the concept of a 'Browser Edition') and to a more effective strategy of conservation. The most important techniques of topographical relief are deeply presented in this paper, offering an overview on some practical applications at Tell Mozan. As for conservations, on p. 173, paragraph 3, the strategies for the conservation of the Royal Palace are described (see also fig. 3 on the same page, showing the structures used to preserve the building). [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2005 |
“Urkesh as a Hurrian Religious Center,” Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 47, pp. 27-59. See full text See abstract Report of the 17th excavation season (2004) at Tell Mozan: the peculiar, historical role of Urkesh as a Hurrian religious center is stressed; the present excavation season aimed at better investigating and clarifing the ethnic valence of Urkesh's sacral and political spaces: the Temple Terrace (together with the ābi) and the Royal Palace. As for conservations, on p. 44, the strategies for the conservation of the Royal Palace are described; on p. 57, Ill. 8 shows a detail of spring holding in place the lower corner of the protective tarp, while Ill. 9 presents the conservation of the stone joints on the Temple Terrace (monumental access with staircase J2). [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2006 |
Of the Past, for the Future: Integrating Archaeology and Conservation. Proceedings of the Conservation Theme at the 5th World Archaeological Congress, Washington, D.C., 22-26 June 2003. Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute. See full text See abstract These proceedings deal with many Major themes about conservation, considered as “a core value for most archaeological societies. It is highlighted in their codes of ethics, statements of mission, and governance. In recognition of this, the World Archaeological Congress, with the Getty Conservation Institute and a consortium of other conservation organizations, brought together scholars working throughout the globe to discuss vital issues that affect archaeological heritage today”. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2006a |
“Conservation qua Archaeology at Tell Mozan/Urkesh,” in N. Agnew and J. Bridgland (eds.), Of the Past, for the Future: Integrating Archaeology and Conservation, Proceedings of the Conservation Theme at the 5th World Archaeological Congress, Washington D.C. 22-26 June 2003, Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, pp. 73-81. See full text See abstract The destructive nature of the archaeological work needs for the development of proper registration of data and the following conservation of the uncovered structures. The innovative conservation system firstly applied at Urkesh is here deeply described, stressing the benefits of this new setup od the archaeological site, perceived as an archaeological park as a whole. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2006b |
“Presentation and Interpretation of Archaeological Sites: the Case of Tell Mozan, Ancient Urkesh,” in N. Agnew and J. Bridgland (eds.), Of the Past, for the Future: Integrating Archaeology and Conservation, Proceedings of the Conservation Theme at the 5th World Archaeological Congress, Washington D.C. 22-26 June 2003, Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, pp. 152-156. See full text See abstract After the proper excavation process, archaeologists are required to act towards two goals: the interpretation and preservation of the excavated structures and material and the presentation of the site to the wider public of scholars and tourists. The different strategies of preservation and presentation of Tell Mozan are here briefly outlined. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2010 |
“The Urkesh Temple Terrace: Function and Perception,” in J. Becker, R. Hempelmann, and E. Rehm (eds.), Kulturlandschaft Syrien - Zentrum und Peripherie - Festschrift für Jan-Waalke Meyer, AOAT 371, Münster: Ugarit-Verlag, pp. 87-121. See full text See abstract The structure and the function of Urkesh's Temple Terrace is widely analysed in the present contribution, aiming to define the limits and features of ancient perception on this monumental structures. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2014 |
Dal profondo del tempo. All'origine della comunicazione e della comunità nell'antica Siria. Firenze: Società Editrice Fiorentina, 2014. See full text Premessa Introduzione
Bibliografia Abstract This book is the result of an exhibit organized at Rimini on the occasion of the “XXXV Meeting per l’amicizia tra i popoli”. After a foreword (by Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati) and an introduction of the author, the book is divided into 4 chapters, dealing with many Major themes about Urkesh and another site in Georgia, namely Dmanisi. Chapter 1 describes a different approach to the knowledge of Urkesh, discussing the topic of ‘the seeing’ of an ancient archaeological site. A reflection about the span time between us and the human beings who inhabited Urkesh is presented, stressing how it is still possible to bridge a modern culture with an ancient society, introducing some aspects of anthropological studies. A summary about the last 30 years of work at Tell Mozan is sketched, underlining the importance of all the people (both specialists and local people) involved in the project. Chapter 2 focuses on the recent excavations at Dmanisi, Georgia, undertaken under the direction of David Lordkipanidze with the assistance of Giorgio Buccellati and Marilyn Kelly-Bucellati. The human finds can tell us a story of people who lived some millennia BP, presenting some important and profound interrogatives about humanity in general and also about the development of the fist hominids, at the dawn of the first human communities elaborating craft skills, special competence and aspects related to sociality and mutual assistance. Chapter 3 deals with some aspects on these first community of hominids (around 30000 BP) who started elaborating some abstract concepts (in a mere logical thought) related to time-calculation (the ability of observe and record on artefacts the moon phases), the growing of an extra-somatic perspective, the elaboration of the language as a base for the following elaboration of writing systems. Chapter 4 bridges the first step in the human development (or evolution), moving from the aforementioned period (around 30000 BP) to the historical period (ca. 4000 BC), when the writing started to be invented and the communities of hominids started in shaping as cities and much more complexes communities, giving the birth to the concept of ‘culture’: the so-called “civilization”. The new social development and functional system are explained thanks to the example of Urkesh. The rest of the chapter presents many aspects about Urkesh, considered as a useful study-case for the aforementioned process: geographical and chronological information is provided, and the main structures and artefacts unearthed on the site are presented, also explaining the daily life of the Hurrian people living at Urkesh, stressing (though the analysis of seas, sealing and other objects, mainly from the Royal Palace of Tupkish) the role of the royal couple in the life of the town. The last part of the chapter particularly focuses on the so-call ‘necromantic pit’, known as aâi in the Hurrian language. Chapter 5 concerns some more anthropological interrogatives: how can we (modern archaeologist and common people) approach and understand such an ancient civilization? How can we reach a certainty in our modern interpretations of so ancient phaenomena? The only solution lies on the concept of ‘empathy’: the (inner, spiritual) differences between ancient cultures and us is not so enormous, if we consider that, in the end, everybody (male or female) is a human being, with similar necessities and wit common questions about life (and afterlife, too). In this way-of-thinking, not only it is possible to better interpret some ancient phaenomena, but also we can retrace something like a ‘secret kinship’ between antiquity and modernity. Chapter 6 offers a glimpse on future perspectives and objectives of the archaeologists: preserve the monuments and the artefacts (because of the well-known war situation in Syria), creating an archaeological eco-park; safeguard (i.e., to understand at the best) the past as an opportunity for the future, presenting the site to visitors, involving also the local community in these efforts, making also ‘virtually accessible’ the site though the internet, on the official website of the mission (visit Webpage). [mDP – August 2020] |
|
2014 |
Dal profondo del tempo. All'origine della comunicazione e della comunità nell'antica Siria. Arabic translation. Firenze: Società Editrice Fiorentina, 2014. See full text Arabic table of contents:
من عمق الزمان
ثبت المراجع Abstract This book is the result of an exhibit organized at Rimini on the occasion of the “XXXV Meeting per l’amicizia tra i popoli”. After a foreword (by Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati) and an introduction of the author, the book is divided into 4 chapters, dealing with many Major themes about Urkesh and another site in Georgia, namely Dmanisi. Chapter 1 describes a different approach to the knowledge of Urkesh, discussing the topic of ‘the seeing’ of an ancient archaeological site. A reflection about the span time between us and the human beings who inhabited Urkesh is presented, stressing how it is still possible to bridge a modern culture with an ancient society, introducing some aspects of anthropological studies. A summary about the last 30 years of work at Tell Mozan is sketched, underlining the importance of all the people (both specialists and local people) involved in the project. Chapter 2 focuses on the recent excavations at Dmanisi, Georgia, undertaken under the direction of David Lordkipanidze with the assistance of Giorgio Buccellati and Marilyn Kelly-Bucellati. The human finds can tell us a story of people who lived some millennia BP, presenting some important and profound interrogatives about humanity in general and also about the development of the fist hominids, at the dawn of the first human communities elaborating craft skills, special competence and aspects related to sociality and mutual assistance. Chapter 3 deals with some aspects on these first community of hominids (around 30000 BP) who started elaborating some abstract concepts (in a mere logical thought) related to time-calculation (the ability of observe and record on artefacts the moon phases), the growing of an extra-somatic perspective, the elaboration of the language as a base for the following elaboration of writing systems. Chapter 4 bridges the first step in the human development (or evolution), moving from the aforementioned period (around 30000 BP) to the historical period (ca. 4000 BC), when the writing started to be invented and the communities of hominids started in shaping as cities and much more complexes communities, giving the birth to the concept of ‘culture’: the so-called “civilization”. The new social development and functional system are explained thanks to the example of Urkesh. The rest of the chapter presents many aspects about Urkesh, considered as a useful study-case for the aforementioned process: geographical and chronological information is provided, and the main structures and artefacts unearthed on the site are presented, also explaining the daily life of the Hurrian people living at Urkesh, stressing (though the analysis of seas, sealing and other objects, mainly from the Royal Palace of Tupkish) the role of the royal couple in the life of the town. The last part of the chapter particularly focuses on the so-call ‘necromantic pit’, known as aâi in the Hurrian language. Chapter 5 concerns some more anthropological interrogatives: how can we (modern archaeologist and common people) approach and understand such an ancient civilization? How can we reach a certainty in our modern interpretations of so ancient phaenomena? The only solution lies on the concept of ‘empathy’: the (inner, spiritual) differences between ancient cultures and us is not so enormous, if we consider that, in the end, everybody (male or female) is a human being, with similar necessities and wit common questions about life (and afterlife, too). In this way-of-thinking, not only it is possible to better interpret some ancient phaenomena, but also we can retrace something like a ‘secret kinship’ between antiquity and modernity. Chapter 6 offers a glimpse on future perspectives and objectives of the archaeologists: preserve the monuments and the artefacts (because of the well-known war situation in Syria), creating an archaeological eco-park; safeguard (i.e., to understand at the best) the past as an opportunity for the future, presenting the site to visitors, involving also the local community in these efforts, making also ‘virtually accessible’ the site though the internet, on the official website of the mission (visit Webpage). [mDP – August 2020] |
|
2014a |
“Konservierung der archäologischen Stätte,” Antike Welt. Zeitschrift für Archäologie und Kulturgeschichte [online journal]. See full text Alternative online version See abstract The interpretation and presentation of the archaeological site of Urkesh are here discussed from the very beginning of the discovery to the current strategies of conservation and valorization, underlining the innovation of the browser edition of archaeological data and the innovative preservation system for architectural remains. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2014b |
“Courage among the Ruins: A Sustainable Conservation Program in Time of War,” Backdirt, December, pp. 102-112. See full text See abstract This paper aims in defining how archaeologists' responsability involves also (and probably mostly) the inclusion and valorization of the local community living nearby the ancient site of Urkesh; moreover, the current war-situation in Syria needs for new strategies of courage and braveness to maintaining the contacts with the local community of Tell Mozan, towards an increasing sense of involvement and mutual responsability. [mDP – November 2019] |
|
2017 |
“Conserviamo il futuro,” in Tracce, febbraio 2017, pp. 36-39. See full text A discussion about preservation and conservation of archaeological sites in Syria during wartime, aiming at describing different efforts of local archaeologists (and common people, too) to defend the archaeological heritage of ancient Syria. [mDP – January 2020] |
|
2018 |
G. Buccellati, S. Ermidoro and Y. Mahmoud I millenni per l'oggi. L'archeologia contro la guerra: Urkesh di ieri nella Siria di oggi. Firenze: Società Editrice Fiorentina, 2018. Publisher's page Premesse Il valore dell'archeologia per una Siria unita (Mahmud Hamud) La condivisione dei sostenitori (Giuseppe Guzzetti) La promessa di un future giovane (Marilyn Kelly–Buccellati, Giorgio Buccellati) Introduzione. L'urgenza di comunicare. La tematica della mostra (Giorgio Buccellati)
Ringraziamenti Crediti fotografici [mDP – August 2020] |
|
2018 |
G. Buccellati, S. Ermidoro and Y. Mahmoud I millenni per l'oggi. L'archeologia contro la guerra: Urkesh di ieri nella Siria di oggi. Arabic translation. Firenze: Società Editrice Fiorentina, 2018. See full text Arabic table of contents:
الألفية من
شكر شكر للمصورين [mDP – August 2020] |
|
2018 |
“Textiles and Archaeological Sites: Towards a Methodology for Designing Lightweight Protective Structures,” in S. Di Salvo, (ed.), Adaptive Materials Research for Architecture, (Advanced Materials Research 1149), Zurich: Scientific.Net, 2018, pp. 109-118. DOI See full text See abstract The paper discusses about the development of the best-fitting shelters used to cover (temporally or for long-time) archaeological sites, taking in consideration three main goals: 1) the protection of the archaeological structures; 2) a support to the archaeologist during their field word; 3) a complete and well achievable fruition of the archaeological remains to the visitors. [mDP – July 2019] |
|
2019 |
“Integrating Conservation, Archaeology, and Community at Tell Mozan (Urkesh),” in Stefano Valentini and Guido Guarducci (eds.), Between Syria and the Highlands. Studies in Honor of Giorgio Buccellati and Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati, CAMNES: Studies on the Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean, Volume 3, Roma: Arbor Sapientiae, pp. 15-20. See full text “The conservation model for archaeology that emerged in the 1970s as a response to loss of sites was a seminal development in the practice of archaeology. In the present era of challenges, the integration of conservation, archaeology and community at Tell Mozan exemplifies a compelling evolution of the model for excavated sites” (authors' abstract on p. 15). [mDP – January 2020] |
|
2019 |
“From Urkesh to Mozan. The itinerary of a project in wartime,” in A. Pieńkowska, D. Szeląg and I. Zych (eds.), Stories told around the fountain. Papers offered to Piotr Bieliński on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Warsaw: University of Warsaw Press; PCMA UW., pp. 187-204. DOI See full text “Building on a long experience with community engagement in prewar times, the Urkesh Extended Project has faced the problems caused by the current war in Syria by expanding the range of its activities and involving on many different levels the local communities. Here I touch first on a theoretical consideration: the notion of territorial legacy as linking the modern with the ancient inhabitants of the area of ancient Urkesh. I then illustrate two particular aspects of our work, namely, conservation and site presentation: both continued unabated during the war, and were even expanded. The response of the local people has been a major measure of success, with large numbers of visitors still coming to the site for a surprising form of war tourism” [author's abstract]. [mDP – December 2020] |
|
2019 |
G. Buccellati, S. Ermidoro and Y. Mahmoud The millennia for today. Archaeology agaist war: Yesterday'sUrkesh in today's Syria. Firenze: Società Editrice Fiorentina; Undena Publications: Malibu, 2019. See full text Foreword The value of archaeology for a united Syria (Mahmud Hamud) The supporters as partners (Giuseppe Guzzetti) The promise of a young future (Marilyn Kelly–Buccellati, Giorgio Buccellati) Introduction. The urgency to communicate. The theme of the exhibit (Giorgio Buccellati)
Acknowledgments Credits [mDP – August 2020] |
|
2020 |
“Distancing: One-on-One Heritage Archaeology across Three Continents,” in Backdirt 2020 (December) Archaeology and Pandemics, pp. 92-97. See full text In this contribution the authors describe how to keep a strong contact and commitment with an archaeological site (namely Urkesh/Tell Mozan) even during a period of war and many troubles and even at distance. Three keywords are underscored: 1) conservation; 2) publication; public presentation. A new program is then described, named Urkesh One-to-One Project, particularly focusing on the possibility of maintaining a strong and effective contact to the site and the local community and encouraging the role of young scholars, students, and people engaged with the ancient city, distant in time but close in crossing continents and boundaries defined by the present war and pandemic situation. [mDP – March 2021] |
|
2021 |
Mobilising Syrian Cultural Heritage: making change towards social and cultural inclusion and integration. A Meta-Frame Analysis of Two Case Studies: The Case of Mozan, Syria: 2010-2016. The Case of Über den Tellerrand, Germany: 2016-2018. PhD dissertation See abstract “Following the ten years of devastating conflict in Syria, Syrians in their homeland and in diaspora are in dire need of every effort to bring them together and enable them to adapt to their new communities. Syria's rich and diverse heritage has the power to shape the future of Syrian society towards further inclusivity and lead to open relationships between Syria and the world based on mutual respect and understanding. This thesis aims to position cultural heritage, in both tangible and intangible forms, as a vehicle of soft power to make social and cultural change in diverse communities more inclusive and integrated by creating new ties, or empowering existing social and cultural bonds between people on a foundation of mutual understanding, respect, and trust. To examine the scale of social and cultural change, this research examines cultural heritage from its functional view as a social construct and adopts a theory of change as a methodological approach to investigate the necessary indicators and preconditions to reach social and cultural inclusion and integration. Two embodied and explanatory cases studies have been conducted in Syria and in Germany to examine the contributions of two different forms of cultural heritage and discuss the qualitative findings of the open ended and in-depth interviews. Through a meta-frame analysis, this examination aims to create a narrative link between theories and empirical data in order to ascertain the credibility of the data collected, and the validity of the theories applied. The results reveal that using cultural heritage as a soft power vehicle can aid and build the mutual understanding, trust, and respect required to develop sustainable ties between people, and encourage further participation, however, proper partnership requires consistent long-term commitment. I discuss the limitations of using cultural heritage as a vehicle for social cohesion and inclusion, and indicate further the required conditions, namely a consistency of approach, to offer a model for the development of a theory of change, and a new qualitative evaluation of the impact of cultural heritage. ” [Author's abstract]. [mDP – December 2021] |
|
2022 |
“Engaging young generation in cultural heritage: Urkesh One-on-One Project,” DirittoPolitecnico.it, 2022, online. Online version “A great deal of the archaeological work is about discovery and interpretation. We discover the physical remains and then develop a narrative of history based on these remains. When the Syrian upheaval started in 2011, the archaeological team of Tell Mozan/ancient Urkesh was no longer able to return to the site to excavate. However, during the years of the physical absence from the site, other discoveries in Syria took place, through the moral and virtual presence of the Urkesh archaeological team. And a whole new narrative of modern history, related to Urkesh and its local communities, has been written in the last decade. This article will present the Urkesh One-on-one project as a model of an outreach program to engage youngsters in cultural heritage. It will then present a reflection on the broader social impact of the program.” (Author's abstract). [mDP – October 2023] |
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2023 |
“Urkesh Community Archaeology Project: A Sustainable Model from Syria,” in R. Bonnie, M. Lorenzon and S. Thomas (eds), Living Communities and Their Archaeologies in the Middle East,, Helsinki: Helsinki University Press, pp. 211-238. See full text DOI “This chapter discusses the community archaeology approach in Urkesh, which has been instrumental in turning the site into a source of pride and common identity for a mosaic of communities living next to it. It discusses the sustainability of the Urkesh community project, showing how these communities became more engaged in site activities despite the physical absence of the archaeological team. The concept of inheritance as tied to living inheritors is illustrated with examples from the interaction between archaeologists and the local communities. Finally, the chapter illustrates the resilience of the project in adapting to a situation of crisis, highlighting one particular programme designed to empower local young people amid the global pandemic and the impact of Syrian conflict on their lives” (Authors' abstract, p. 211). [mDP – October 2023] |
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2. Links to multimidia outside Urkesh/E-Library. AVASA
This section offers links to AVASA webpage regarding multimedia on the topic of the present page (i.e., heritage at Urkesh/Tell Mozan).
- 9th December 2021: Dissertation defence: Dr. Yara Moualla defended her PhD dissertation “Mobilising Syrian Cultural Heritage: making change towards social and cultural inclusion and integration. A Meta-Frame Analysis of Two Case Studies: The Case of Mozan, Syria: 2010-2016. The Case of Über den Tellerrand, Germany: 2016-2018”
- 6th June 2021: “Immersive Live Tour. Visit the Ancient City of Urkesh in the Syrian Jezirah”
Online conference organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art; video - 12th May 2021: Urkesh e l'Associazione “Rondine Cittadella della Pace”
Online conference Preserving Cultural Heritage; video-reportage - 24th March 2021: Digital event “Heritage Beyond Walls”
Online conference hosted by the association Fondazione Santagata for the Economics of Culture; video - 24th February 2021: Virtual pizza talk “Cultural Heritage? A Personal-Tale
from Tell Mozan in Syria”
Online conference organized by the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles; video - 11th November 2020: Lecture “Urkesh beyond Urkesh: Community and Digitality”
Online conference organized by the Center for Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies in Florence; video
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