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
STARS Citation
Sangria, Myli R., "Heritage and Archaeological Knowledge Dissemination Strategies: A Kurd Qaburstan Case Study" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 265.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/265
Included in
Archaeological Anthropology Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons