Tareq Awwad

3005202a@student.gla.ac.uk

Research title: Syrian Archaeological Excavations after the independence of 1946 to 2024: Archaeological Methods and Practices, and Challenges

Research Summary

This project will explore the history of archeology in Syria and its impact on local archaeological excavation management, methods, and practices, as well as interpretive paradigms in post-independence excavations from 1946 until 2024. The project seeks to situate current practices of archaeological knowledge creation in Syria’s colonial history and key archaeological research projects.

This study will explore post-independence archaeological practice in Syria from three interrelated perspectives:

1) Local communities of practice, including (a) Syrian archaeologists. (b) The structure, organization, and management of Syrian archaeological missions. (c) The relationships of excavation labourers and archaeological research teams.

2) Excavation methods and techniques. The second part of the study will develop a comprehensive understanding of the aims of Syrian excavations, their overall research strategies, the methods employed, and interpretive frameworks used to narrate results.

3) Foreign institutions. A third component will explore the emergence and development of international research institutions/schools, focusing in particular on policies regarding excavation practices up to 2024.

Supervisors

Grants

2025-2029: PhD Scholarship from the Arts and Humanities Research Council & the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (AHRC-SGSAH Doctoral Training Partnership Studentship), Scotland, UK.

 

2025: Engagement Fund awarded by the Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities (SGSAH), for archival fieldwork and key informant interviews at the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) in Syria.

 

2024: The Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL),
CBRL Research Support Grants 2024. UK-Jordan.

 

2024: A private grant from Harris Matrix.

 

2021-2022: the Mellon Fellowship Program, at Columbia Global Centers-Amman, with the cooperation of the Department of Anthropology, Columbia University in New York.

 

2008: A small grant from the Council At-Risk Academics (Cara), UK.

 

Conferences

2022. Heritage and Archeology Diwan conference, in collaboration with Ifpo, CBRL, and GPIA.
- The topic “The relationship between the archaeological excavations and the local communities in the Eastern Mediterranean” (Syria as a case study).


2021. Closed Round Table at Columbia Global Centers|Amman.
The topic is "The relationship between the Syrian communities and archaeological sites and its factors.”

Additional Information

Archival and Qualitative Fieldwork
Sep-Oct 2025. Archival research and key informant–based qualitative fieldwork at the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), Syria.

  

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

April 2025. University of Glasgow, Department of Archaeology. Sirwan Regional Project, Shakhi Kora site. Kurdistani Iraq.

Mar-Apr 2022 & Apr.-May 2023. Institut Français du Proche-Orient (IFPO). East Jerash Project, Jordan.

Dec 22-April 23. The American Center of Research (ACOR) and SCHEP-the field school of archaeological excavation on the southern slope of Amman Citadel, Amman, Jordan.

Oct-Nov 2022. The French Archaeological Mission in Petra (MAFP)—Qaser Al-Bent project, in cooperation with IFPO-Amman and Université Libre de Bruxelles. Petra, Jordan.

Jun 2018-May-Jul 2019. University of Balamand (UOB) and Honor Frost Foundation (HFF). Anfeh and Deir Enatour, AlKoura, Lebanon.

April 2014–June 2017. Institut Français du Proche-Orient (IFPO). Rescue excavations of Beirut, Lebanon. (Freelancer)

Sep–Oct 2016. Directorate General of Antiquities in Lebanon. Watching Brief & Sounding Test, Beirut, Lebanon.

Apr-Dec 2013. Lebanese University and Directorate General of Antiquities, rescue excavation of Beirut, Lebanon.

Jul–Sep 2012. Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, Tall Qassarin, Hama, Syria.

Aug 2012. Damascus University, Tall al-Shamyyah, Latakia, Syria.

Jul 2007, 2008, 2009. Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, Tall Homsi, Salamieh, Syria.

 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Aug-May, 2019. Honor Frost Foundation (HFF):
Surveyor, Anfieh & Tyre, Lebanon.

Jun. 2010–Jul. 2011. University of Tunis, MA Thesis in Ancient Eastern Archaeology: Surveyor, Tall Ghazaly, Salamieh, Hama, Syria.

 

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Dec 2023. Trainer, Institut Français du Proche Orient (Ifpo), in cooperation with the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (DoA), Jordan.
Dec. 22-April 23. 

Field Supervisor and Trainer. The American Center of Research—ACOR and SCHEP—the field school of archaeological excavation, the southern slope of Amman Citadel, Jordan.

 

PUBLIC/COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY

2023. Open Day of Public Archaeology: Definition of archaeological excavation and illegal digging. Akwan NGO, Amman, Jordan.

2014–2015. Syrian Eyes (NGO) and Biladi, Heritage Education.
Assistant Manager, researcher, and trainer of the “Syria in My Mind” project, Lebanon.