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Survey area during Week 2.

Some of these settlement sites are impressive in their size, which often contain churches, public baths, castles, houses, and numerous olive oil and wine production facilities.

This project aims to monitor damage to these sites and assess threats to which they are exposed. All relevant data collected during our survey is entered into a project geodatabase to produce maps and visualizations that will provide up-to-date information for cultural heritage authorities to develop appropriate protection programs.

After two weeks of our survey, we have discovered illegal excavation activity at some locations, however bulldozing and urban sprawl remains the biggest threat to heritage sites.

During our visit, perhaps the biggest challenge has been convincing local communities about the importance of what we are doing. It can be difficult gaining access to local farms and private property that contain archaeological sites. Overall, however, we have been warmly welcomed by many people who live near these sites and by homeowners whose property includes archaeological remains. We strive to demonstrate the importance of these sites to the local community and their own personal connection to Libyan archaeology and history, most of whom spoke lovingly about these sites and promised to preserve them.

Tea Time

On July 8^th, 2021, we held a very successful outreach event in Ptolemais, which is one of Libya’s most important archaeological cities.  In coordination with the Office of Antiquities of Talmetha, this event took place at Al-Bayna Primary and Secondary School. The program was attended by about 50 students ranging in age from 4 to 8, which included an introduction to the history of Ptolemais and why it is important historically and archaeologically.

A principal component of these events has been an explanation for students about the different types of museums, including the suitcase museum developed by ASOR, and their importance in the preservation of museum collections, displays, education, and entertainment. We have also developed many hands-on activities for students to participate in archaeology more actively.

In the coming weeks, we plan to raise local awareness about what we have documented. We will invite local residents, stakeholders, and officials to a gathering at one of these sites to talk with them about the site’s importance and the need to preserve it, while also giving them and their families brochures about our discoveries so far.

Read Every Weekly Update of ASOR’s Cyrene Cultural Heritage Survey

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