CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Barakat, Mahmoud |
|---|---|
| Title | The Cultural Landscape of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria in the Memories of Displaced Locals |
| Summary | Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Syria's rich archaeological heritage has faced serious threats, including looting, damage associated with fighting, and the intentional destruction of antiquities. This destruction is prevalent across the ancient villages in northern Syria, some of which are part of World Heritage sites. The destruction is not limited to the built environment; it extends to a massive, government driven campaign of cutting down of olive trees, fully uprooting and removal them. There are a huge number of displaced local people from this area who were forced to escape and flee to seek refuge near the Turkish border; some have sought sanctuary within and nearby the cultural landscape of northwest Syria. The research focuses on the cultural landscapes in the southern part of Idlib province in Syria. The features of cultural heritage at these archaeological sites and surrounding olive groves are assessed carefully, identifying their resonance within the memories of displaced locals as well in memoryscapes form out of displacement and comprising the monuments, olive groves, and displaced locals. The study aims at exploring issues of the importance of local heritage for the displacement community as well as to map their memories of home, where special echoes can find new, healing meaning. The role that such cultural landscapes play in the preservation of collective memory and post-war psychological recovery will be pivotal. There is the possibility that cultural heritage could be used as one tool in helping reduce the trauma of displaced people and, eventually, even in internal post-war recovery in Syria. Moreover, there is a need to incorporate forward-looking heritage futures into research and findings connected to resilient heritage and the ability to aspire during displacement. Finally, there are new, social connections that can be created through provoking and stimulating memories of this special cultural landscape. |
| Supervisor | Choyke, Alice Mathea |
| Department | Medieval Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/barakat_mahmoud.pdf |
Visit the CEU Library.
© 2007-2021, Central European University