Archaeology Research

Iraq's archaeological discoveries have shaped understanding of human civilisations - but its scientists have been sidelined

 

Excavation of Shakhi Kora, with Yasman Nabati Mazloumi, Francesco Del Bravo and Jamal Mohammed in the foreground, and Muhammad Kazim, Bakr Fatah, and Hassan Ali (Image: Sirwan Regional Project)

 

The 2025 workshop at the University of Glasgow brought together archaeologists, heritage professionals, university leaders and representatives of the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage from across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Using discussions from the workshop as a starting point, the article explores who gets to shape archaeological priorities in Iraq and why Iraqi archaeologists remain underrepresented in many of the institutions and projects that help define the discipline. The article highlights how different priorities emerge when Iraqi and Kurdish archaeologists play a greater role in setting research agendas, including on climate change, gender equity, heritage governance and public engagement.

The article draws on established collaborations between the University of Glasgow and partners across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, including research at Shakhi Kora and in the marshes of southern Iraq.

Read the full article in The Conversation here

 

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First published: 4 September 2026