Keywords

Public Archaeology, Community Archaeology, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Cultural Heritage, Mesopotamia

Abstract

This thesis addresses the long-standing absence of community archaeology initiatives in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq by designing and implementing a pilot public archaeology program at the site of Kurd Qaburstan, a large Middle Bronze Age city (ca. 1800 BCE) located on the Erbil Plain. In summer 2024, the author implemented a community archaeology activity designed as a first step toward sustained engagement with the village that partially overlaps the site. The program—a hands-on lesson in archaeological stratigraphy for K–5 students, followed by a guided site visit—was intentionally simple, affordable, and easy to carry out alongside ongoing fieldwork. The activity offers a grounded model for building trust and initiating dialogue with local stakeholders through shared educational experiences. It also reflects a broader commitment to inclusive archaeological practice, particularly in regions where community engagement has historically been constrained by logistical, political, or security-related challenges. At Kurd Qaburstan, where ongoing agricultural activity and nearby construction threaten the long-term preservation of the site, such efforts take on added significance: they help lay the foundation for future collaboration and local stewardship.

Thesis Completion Year

2025

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Earley-Spadoni, Tiffany

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

History

Thesis Discipline

History

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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Rights Statement

In Copyright