Postgraduate research students

Tareq Awwad

3005202a@student.gla.systa-s.com

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 funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) & the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH), AHRC–SGSAH Doctoral Training Partnership, Scotland, United Kingdom.

2025
Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), School of Humanities, University of Glasgow, to present a paper at the Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG) Conference, University of York, United Kingdom.

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

2024
Research Support Grant, Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL), United Kingdom–Jordan, to develop a research paper.

2024
Private research grant from Harris Matrix to create a guidebook on archaeological excavations.

2021–2022
Mellon Fellowship Program, Columbia Global Centers | Amman, in cooperation with the Department of Anthropology, Columbia University, New York, United States.

2008
Small grant from the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA), United Kingdom, to develop a research paper, Lebanon.

Conferences

Awwad, T. (2025). Syrian archaeological excavations after the independence of 1946 to 2024: Archaeological methods, practices, and challenges. The Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference (TAG 2025), University of York, United Kingdom.

Awwad, T. (2022). The relationship between archaeological excavations and local communities in the Eastern Mediterranean: Syria as a case study. The Heritage and Archaeology Diwan Conference, in collaboration with the Institut français du Proche-Orient (IFPO), Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL), and the Global Protection of Iraqi Antiquities (GPIA), German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan.

Awwad, T. (2021). The relationship between Syrian communities and archaeological sites and its factors. Closed Round Table, Columbia Global Centers | Amman.

Teaching

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, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

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

Dec 2022–Apr 2023
The American Center of Research (ACOR) and SCHEP, Field School of Archaeological Excavation on the southern slope of the Amman Citadel, Amman, Jordan.

Oct–Nov 2022
French Archaeological Mission in Petra (MAFP), Qasr al-Bint 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, Al-Koura, Lebanon.

Apr 2014–Jun 2017
Institut Français du Proche-Orient (IFPO). Rescue excavations in Beirut, Lebanon (Freelance).

Sep–Oct 2016
Directorate General of Antiquities of Lebanon. Watching brief and sounding test, Beirut, Lebanon.

Apr–Dec 2013
Lebanese University and Directorate General of Antiquities. Rescue excavations in Beirut, Lebanon.

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

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

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

 

Archaeological Survey

Aug 2018–May 2019
Honor Frost Foundation (HFF). Surveyor, Anfeh and Tyre, Lebanon.

Jun 2010–Jul 2011
University of Tunis, MA Thesis in Ancient Near 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 2022–Apr 2023
Field Supervisor and Trainer, The American Center of Research (ACOR) and SCHEP, Field School of Archaeological Excavation, southern slope of the Amman Citadel, Jordan.

 

Public 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, “Syria in My Mind” project, Lebanon.