NMC265H1

Archaeology in War Zones: Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan

This course addresses difficult questions about how we value cultural heritage, who it belongs to, and how we should protect it during times of crisis. Focusing on the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, we examine what went wrong, and discuss the role of cultural heritage in nationalistic discourses, ideologically motivated performative heritage destruction, and the contribution that cultural heritage can make to post-conflict peacebuilding. We will also cover such issues as the limitations of current cultural heritage protection laws, methods for threat monitoring and assessment, and the role of the illicit antiquities trade in the ongoing destruction of cultural heritage.