- Lucy Semaan
P.O.Box 1553
Jounieh
Lebanon
Lucy Semaan
American University of Beirut, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department Member
- University of Balamand, Department of Archaeology and Museology, Post-DocUniversity of Exeter, Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, Graduate Studentadd
- Archaeology, Maritime Archaeology, Ancient Near Eastern History, Archaeological wood, plant fiber and charcoal identification, Wood (Archaeology), Maritime Ethnography, and 36 moreAncient timber trade, Harbour Archaeology, Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology, Underwater Archaeology, Marine Archaeology, Indo-Roman Trade, ancient Red sea ports, Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Ethnography, Islamic Studies, Remote Sensing, Historical Archaeology, Physical Geography, Lebanon, Ports, Maritime, Shipping, Nautical Archaeology, Bronze Age, Timber, Phoenician Punic Archaeology, Phoenicians, Phoenician trade, Phoenicia, Phoenician Ships, Navigation and Commerce, Phoenician and Punic Amphorae, Wooden Ship Building, Nautical Archeaology, Ancient Ports and Harbours, Ancient Mediterranean ports, Ancient Ports and Shipping, Tim Ingold, Archaeological Theory, Survey (Archaeological Method & Theory), Roman Archaeology, and Women In the Ancient Near Eastedit
- I am an archaeologist specialising in maritime archaeology and ethnography. I was born and bred in Lebanon and workin... moreI am an archaeologist specialising in maritime archaeology and ethnography. I was born and bred in Lebanon and working towards studying and preserving the maritime cultural heritage of my country, with a larger interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are all connected by the sea!edit
The finding of an underwater site in 2008, led to its excavation by the authors in 2013. The site contained a number of thick walled sherds, including one with a distinctive large handle. A number of these sherds were wedged under an... more
The finding of an underwater site in 2008, led to its excavation by the authors in 2013. The site contained a number of thick walled sherds, including one with a distinctive large handle. A number of these sherds were wedged under an ovoid stone anchor of a type typical of the Iron Age Levant. These artifacts, along with a section of a column indicated that the site was possible that of a wrecked ship. Excavation of the site revealed the place was more than an Iron Age date, and probably more likely an anchorage used in the various periods of the Beiruti seafront.
Research Interests:
TWS100 is a multi-period site on the Lebanese coast, 28 Km North of period and 11 Km south of Byblos. It delivered evidence of human settlements from the Middle Paleolithic, the Neolithic, the Romano-Byzantine era in addition to the... more
TWS100 is a multi-period site on the Lebanese coast, 28 Km North of period and 11 Km south of Byblos. It delivered evidence of human settlements from the Middle Paleolithic, the Neolithic, the Romano-Byzantine era in addition to the Ottoman period. The Neolithic settlement spans the time frame covering the Middle PPNB, the Late PPNB and the Pottery Neolithic and comprises domestic buildings , a number of features, burials, fishing gear, symbolic objects including figurines in addition to human and animal burials.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The present paper summarises the question of the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Greco-Roman era and the mediaeval... more
The present paper summarises the question of the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Greco-Roman era and the mediaeval Islamic period. In doing so, the paper sheds the light on timber trade and exploitation processes of the past, and how these interlinked with the geopolitics and socio-economics of the time. The Red Sea regions are portrayed not only as wood importers from the Mediterranean, East Africa and South Asia but also as beneficiaries of local wood resources for their boatbuilding needs. Similarly, the paper stresses that little attention has been given to the exploitation of local wood in favour of Indian timber, especially teak. Thus it suggests the need to consider other timber species that were equally suitable for boatbuilding, as well as other western Indian Ocean wood providers. This study also draws on ethnographic research in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, timber exploitation processes and the variables involved in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry – i.e., by drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography – the paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.
Research Interests:
European travelers from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries only briefly mention harbor remains at famous archaeological sites such as Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre. By the mid-nineteenth century, harbors attracted a more focused interest... more
European travelers from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries only briefly mention harbor remains at famous archaeological sites such as Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre. By the mid-nineteenth century, harbors attracted a more focused interest mainly by French scholars. Jesuit Father Antoine Poidebard initiated the discipline of underwater archaeology, while successfully applying the technique of aerial photography to his study of ancient harbors. The advent of the aqualung in 1943 brought a new sense of professionalism to the field with pioneers embodying both trades: diving and archaeology. This article explores the theoretical and contextual development of maritime archaeology in Lebanon and looks at the main actors who brought the field forward.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This paper discusses maritime archaeological resources in three eastern Mediterranean countries, where the discipline is relatively young: Cyprus, Lebanon, and Egypt. Emphasis is given to capacity building, through discussion of good... more
This paper discusses maritime archaeological resources in three eastern Mediterranean countries, where the discipline is relatively young: Cyprus, Lebanon, and Egypt. Emphasis is given to capacity building, through discussion of good practice and constraints that can be documented during the last two decades on diverse levels: education and training, governance, legislation, and public awareness. Although the three countries share cultural and socio-political backgrounds, the vast majority of the activities described in this paper are country-specific and too recent for their impact to be evaluated. Therefore, the authors place the focus on the processes rather than the results. Through a comparative analysis of local maritime archaeological histories and contemporary realities, they distinguish some key factors for the sustainability of maritime archaeological capacity building: locally based administrative and scholarly institutions, external funding, and public archaeology programmes to enhance appreciation of the maritime cultural heritage by local communities. It is also demonstrated that wars during 1970s and 1990s, in Cyprus and Lebanon respectively, have created unfavourable conditions for the development of maritime archaeology, whereas in Egypt emblematic underwater projects, international synergies and funding, as well as locally-based research and educational institutions, seem to have created a more responsive socio-political landscape for building capacity in maritime archaeology.
Research Interests:
This thesis looks at the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Graeco-Roman period extending from the 8th century BC to... more
This thesis looks at the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Graeco-Roman period extending from the 8th century BC to the eve of Islam in the 7th century AD, and from the medieval Islamic period stretching from the 7th century AD to the 15th century AD. In doing so, it seeks to shed the light on timber trade and the timber exploitation processes; and examine how these were interlinked with the geopolitics and socio-economics of the time. It then portrays the Red Sea areas not only as wood importers from a wide array of regions such as the Mediterranean, East Africa, and South Asia, but also as beneficiaries of local wood resources for their boatbuilding needs. In that respect, it stresses that little attention has been given to the exploitation of local woods in favour of a greater reliance on Indian timber, and more specifically on teak. Thus, it suggests the need to consider other timber species than teak which were equally suitable for shipwrightry, as well as other western Indian Ocean wood providers. To illuminate and colour past interpretations of the subject, in addition to document a vanishing craftsmanship, this thesis has drawn on ethnographic research in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The ethnographic enquiry focused on the types of timber used in boatbuilding in the Red Sea and their vernacular names, the timber exploitation processes, and the factors and variables that come play in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography, this thesis aims to provide the field of maritime culture and maritime archaeology a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Lebanon's strategic location in the eastern Mediterranean has made it a thriving hub for maritime activities since at least the Bronze Age. Despite Lebanon's rich seafaring history, maritime archaeology in the country remains in its... more
Lebanon's strategic location in the eastern Mediterranean has made it a thriving hub for maritime activities since at least the Bronze Age. Despite Lebanon's rich seafaring history, maritime archaeology in the country remains in its infancy and is limited in scope. Related academic education is non-existent, as is a national strategy to develop the field. Furthermore, there is a lack of national laws pertaining to maritime archaeology and Lebanon has only accepted but not ratified, the UNESCO 2001 convention. Since the end of the Civil War in 1990, Lebanon's coastal heritage has been continuously threatened by the chaotic reconstruction of the seafront by real estate corporations and influential individuals who bypass the prerogatives of the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA). Indifference of the population towards their underwater cultural heritage (UCH) does not help mitigate this situation. Hence, local capacity building is needed to develop archaeological skill base and raise awareness of the significance of Lebanon's UCH. Such an initiative would adopt a sustainable staged approach with key strategic points pertaining to the expansion of the education basis, encouraging research, community engagement schemes and cooperative specialised training. This paper will, thus, present an overview of the development of the field in Lebanon; the challenges it faces; past initiatives related to building the capacity of UCH and archaeology as a whole; as well as their sustainability. It will also explore why the suggested capacity-building model would suit the needs of Lebanon and its specific challenges to ensure the study and preservation of the country's maritime cultural heritage.
Research Interests:
This paper considers the maritime cultural landscape of Anfeh, until recently an understudied coastal site in North Lebanon. It seeks to provide an appreciation of Anfeh’s maritime heritage, past and present, describing how an important... more
This paper considers the maritime cultural landscape of Anfeh, until recently an understudied coastal site in North Lebanon. It seeks to provide an appreciation of Anfeh’s maritime heritage, past and present, describing how an important site that played a role in the economy of the northern Levant from the Early Bronze Age to the Ottoman period is being researched, surveyed, and excavated and, more importantly, how it is being protected and conserved against all odds.
Research Interests:
This chapter considers the application of underwater photogrammetry to record and document the underwater cultural heritage at the site of Anfeh in North Lebanon. Although photogrammetry has become a standard procedure in the field of... more
This chapter considers the application of underwater photogrammetry to record and document the underwater cultural heritage at the site of Anfeh in North Lebanon. Although photogrammetry has become a standard procedure in the field of maritime archaeology worldwide, this is the first use of this recording method in the country. The research context is presented, followed by the methodology adopted according to the particularities of the site and then the results of work undertaken over two campaigns: one in 2016 and one in 2017. The main aims in this chapter are to demonstrate the advantages of a low-cost and time-effective method of documenting sites, where the funding prohibits the use of more expensive geophysical equipment. The application of multi-image photogrammetry as a recording technique at Anfeh has merit in providing global access to artefacts in their in situ context. The results generated from 3D data were particularly informative to the study of a substantial collection of anchors of different types and sizes, without removing them from their underwater context. By calculating volume from the 3D scan, an estimation of the weight of these could be thus achieved and will serve in future analysis of the vessels plying the maritime routes at Anfeh.
Research Interests:
The present paper summarises the question of the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Greco-Roman era and the mediaeval... more
The present paper summarises the question of the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Greco-Roman era and the mediaeval Islamic period. In doing so, the paper sheds the light on timber trade and exploitation processes of the past, and how these interlinked with the geopolitics and socio-economics of the time. The Red Sea regions are portrayed not only as wood importers from the Mediterranean, East Africa and South Asia but also as beneficiaries of local wood resources for their boatbuilding needs. Similarly, the paper stresses that little attention has been given to the exploitation of local wood in favour of Indian timber, especially teak. Thus it suggests the need to consider other timber species that were equally suitable for boatbuilding, as well as other western Indian Ocean wood providers.
This study also draws on ethnographic research in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, timber exploitation processes and the variables involved in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry – i.e., by drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography – the paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.
This study also draws on ethnographic research in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, timber exploitation processes and the variables involved in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry – i.e., by drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography – the paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.
Research Interests:
The town of Anfeh in north Lebanon was first known as Ampi from the Late Bronze Age archives of Tell el-Amarna. In several letters sent from the king of Byblos Rib-Hadda to the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ampi figures among the cities... more
The town of Anfeh in north Lebanon was first known as Ampi from the Late Bronze Age
archives of Tell el-Amarna. In several letters sent from the king of Byblos Rib-Hadda to
the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ampi figures among the cities that were allied to the
kingdom of Amurru against Rib-Hadda. It was the location where Amorite ships lay at
anchor ahead of pursuing their offensive southwards towards Byblos. The literary canon
from subsequent periods also testifies to the presence of harbour(s) at Anfeh and provides
insights into its naval history.
This paper considers recent on land and underwater investigations conducted by the
Department of Archaeology and Museology at the University of Balamand at the site
of Anfeh since 2013 in order to identify possible harbour installations. It draws upon
historical, archaeological, geomorphological, and remote sensing data to contribute an
appreciation of the site’s maritimity, its harbour interfaces, their characteristics, and their
affordances.
archives of Tell el-Amarna. In several letters sent from the king of Byblos Rib-Hadda to
the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ampi figures among the cities that were allied to the
kingdom of Amurru against Rib-Hadda. It was the location where Amorite ships lay at
anchor ahead of pursuing their offensive southwards towards Byblos. The literary canon
from subsequent periods also testifies to the presence of harbour(s) at Anfeh and provides
insights into its naval history.
This paper considers recent on land and underwater investigations conducted by the
Department of Archaeology and Museology at the University of Balamand at the site
of Anfeh since 2013 in order to identify possible harbour installations. It draws upon
historical, archaeological, geomorphological, and remote sensing data to contribute an
appreciation of the site’s maritimity, its harbour interfaces, their characteristics, and their
affordances.
Research Interests:
European travelers from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries only briefly mention harbor remains at famous archaeological sites such as Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre. By the mid-nineteenth century, harbors attracted a more focused interest... more
European travelers from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries only briefly mention harbor remains at famous archaeological sites such as Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre. By the mid-nineteenth century, harbors attracted a more focused interest mainly by French scholars. Jesuit Father Antoine Poidebard initiated the discipline of underwater archaeology, while successfully applying the technique of aerial photography to his study of ancient harbors. The advent of the aqualung in 1943 brought a new sense of professionalism to the field with pioneers embodying both trades: diving and archaeology. This article explores the theoretical and contextual development of maritime archaeology in Lebanon and looks at the main actors who brought the field forward.
Research Interests:
In October 2013, the University of Balamand conducted a one-month underwater visual survey along the coast at the archaeological site of Anfeh, reaching from the promontory of Ras al-Natour in the north to the Barghoun River in the south.... more
In October 2013, the University of Balamand conducted a one-month underwater visual survey along the coast at the archaeological site of Anfeh, reaching from the promontory of Ras al-Natour in the north to the Barghoun River in the south. The site is located some 70 km north of Beirut, on a nose-shaped promontory called Ras al-Qalaat. The occupation of the site stretches from the Ottoman period back to potentially the Bronze Age. Subsequent to sporadic underwater surveys in the past century, the 2013 survey was the first scientific endeavour of its kind at the site, and sought an appreciation of the maritime cultural landscape of the site of Anfeh. It succeeded in providing a preliminary assessment of the underwater cultural heritage of the area, while recording the spatial distribution of artefacts, as well as the underwater physical features. In order to carry out successful and systematic diving operations, as well as to record archaeological and topographical assets, an accurate bathymetry map of the targeted area was produced. The greater potential of future research at Anfeh lies in understanding the
relationship its ancient peoples had with the sea in terms of exploiting maritime resources, navigating its waters, and accordingly modifying the landscape through time.
relationship its ancient peoples had with the sea in terms of exploiting maritime resources, navigating its waters, and accordingly modifying the landscape through time.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
People create narratives of their maritime past through the remembering and forgetting of seafaring experiences, and through the retention and disposal of maritime artefacts that function mnemonically to evoke or suppress those... more
People create narratives of their maritime past through the remembering and forgetting of seafaring experiences, and through the retention and disposal of maritime artefacts that function mnemonically to evoke or suppress those experiences. The sustenance and reproduction of the resulting narratives depends further on effective media of intergenerational transmission; otherwise, they are lost. Rapid socioeconomic transformation across Saudi Arabia in the age of oil has disrupted longstanding seafaring economies in the Red Sea archipelago of the Farasan Islands, and the nearby mainland port of Jizan. Vestiges of wooden boatbuilding activity are few; long-distance dhow trade with South Asia, the Arabian-Persian Gulf and East Africa has ceased; and a once substantial pearling and nacre (mother of pearl) collection industry has dwindled to a tiny group of hobbyists: no youth dive today. This widespread withdrawal from seafaring activity among many people in these formerly maritime-oriented communities has diminished the salience of such activity in cultural memory, and has set in motion narrative creation processes, through which memories are filtered and selected, and objects preserved, discarded, or lost. This paper is a product of the encounter of the authors with keepers of maritime memories and objects in the Farasan Islands and Jizan. An older generation of men recall memories of their experiences as boat builders, captains, seafarers, pearl divers and fishermen. Their recounted memories are inscribed, and Arabic seafaring terms recorded. The extent of the retention of maritime material cultural items as memorials is also assessed, and the rôle of individual, communal and state actors in that retention is considered. Through this reflection, it becomes clear that the extra-biological memory and archive of the region's maritime past is sparse; that intergenerational transmission is failing; that the participation
Research Interests:
This paper looks at the evidence for the timber-trade processes in Lebanon during the Phoenician period (1200-550 BC). These processes encompass issues of acquisition; felling; terrestrial, fluvial, and maritime transportation;... more
This paper looks at the evidence for the timber-trade processes in Lebanon during the Phoenician period (1200-550 BC). These processes encompass issues of acquisition; felling; terrestrial, fluvial, and maritime transportation; conversion; and marketing. The main focus of this paper is to consider the practicalities of inland transportation of the timber logs from the Mount Lebanon chain to the coast. By this, it aims not to solve the problem and determine the exact course path for logging in Iron Age Lebanon but to present new perspectives and considerations for studying this subject. This could be achieved by skimming through technical details of the logging operations, avoid falling into generalizations, and taking previously published hypotheses for granted.
Research Interests:
This paper considers the maritime cultural landscape of Anfeh, until recently an understudied coastal site in North Lebanon. It seeks to provide an appreciation of Anfeh’s maritime heritage, past and present, describing how an important... more
This paper considers the maritime cultural landscape of Anfeh, until recently an understudied coastal site in North Lebanon. It seeks to provide an appreciation of Anfeh’s maritime heritage, past and present, describing how an important site that played a role in the economy of
the northern Levant from the Early Bronze Age to the Ottoman period is being researched, surveyed, and excavated and, more importantly, how it is being protected and conserved against all odds.
the northern Levant from the Early Bronze Age to the Ottoman period is being researched, surveyed, and excavated and, more importantly, how it is being protected and conserved against all odds.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Honor Frost’s pioneering archaeological work in the Mediterranean is known to be almost exclusively focused on anchors, shipwrecks, and harbours. However, a closer examination of her work reveals an avid interest in maritime cultural... more
Honor Frost’s pioneering archaeological work in the Mediterranean is known to be almost exclusively focused on anchors, shipwrecks, and harbours. However, a closer examination of her work reveals an avid interest in maritime cultural landscapes, long before the term was coined by Christer Westerdahl in the 1980s. By putting coastal and underwater archaeology in context, at Lebanese sites such as Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre; by considering sea-level changes and their archaeological signatures, environmental dynamics, and site formation processes; and finally by appreciating the tangible and intangible maritime material culture, Frost paved the way for local archaeologists to hermeneutically perceive the seamlessness of sea and land.
This paper considers the maritime cultural landscape of Anfeh, an albeit understudied coastal site in North Lebanon. It seeks an appreciation of Anfeh’s maritime heritage, past and present. It will describe how an important site that played a role in the economy of the Northern Levant from the Early Bronze Age to the Ottoman Period site is being researched, surveyed and excavated. The multifaceted research project aims at reconstructing the history of Anfeh by combining archaeological data from surveys and excavations, with an in-depth study of ancient epigraphic and literary sources; as well as ethnographic data collected from oral histories. Continuous research promises to locate the ancient city of Ampa [Anfeh] and to investigate its maritime activities with a focus on the anthropic experience of its maritime landscape.
This paper considers the maritime cultural landscape of Anfeh, an albeit understudied coastal site in North Lebanon. It seeks an appreciation of Anfeh’s maritime heritage, past and present. It will describe how an important site that played a role in the economy of the Northern Levant from the Early Bronze Age to the Ottoman Period site is being researched, surveyed and excavated. The multifaceted research project aims at reconstructing the history of Anfeh by combining archaeological data from surveys and excavations, with an in-depth study of ancient epigraphic and literary sources; as well as ethnographic data collected from oral histories. Continuous research promises to locate the ancient city of Ampa [Anfeh] and to investigate its maritime activities with a focus on the anthropic experience of its maritime landscape.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Maritime Archaeology, Underwater Archaeology, Maritime and Underwater Archaeology, UNESCO Underwater cultural heritage, UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of ICH, and 3 moreIssues In Maritime and Underwater Archaeology, UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, and Maritime Archaeology in Lebanon
Research Interests:
The present paper summarizes the question of the use of wood in boatbuilding in Saudi Arabia from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Graeco-Roman period and the... more
The present paper summarizes the question of the use of wood in boatbuilding in Saudi Arabia from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Graeco-Roman period and the medieval Islamic period. In doing so, it sheds the light on the timber trade and the timber exploitation processes in the past; and how these were interlinked with the geopolitics and socio-economics of the time. Not only did Saudi Arabia import wood from the Mediterranean, East Africa, and South Asia; but it also benefited from its local wood resources for boatbuilding.
This paper stresses that little attention has been given to the exploitation of local woods in favour of a greater reliance on Indian timber, especially teak. Thus, it suggests the need to consider other timber species which were equally suitable for shipwrightry, as well as other western Indian Ocean wood providers.
This study has also drawn on ethnographic research in Jizan and the Farasan Archipelago in Saudi Arabia. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, the timber exploitation processes, and the variables that come at play in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography, this paper aims to contribute to the field of maritime culture and maritime archaeology a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.
This paper stresses that little attention has been given to the exploitation of local woods in favour of a greater reliance on Indian timber, especially teak. Thus, it suggests the need to consider other timber species which were equally suitable for shipwrightry, as well as other western Indian Ocean wood providers.
This study has also drawn on ethnographic research in Jizan and the Farasan Archipelago in Saudi Arabia. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, the timber exploitation processes, and the variables that come at play in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography, this paper aims to contribute to the field of maritime culture and maritime archaeology a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.
Research Interests:
This presentation considers the development of maritime archaeology in Lebanon, and sets future prospects aiming at local capacity building.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Maritime Archaeology, Lebanon, Capacity Building, Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology, Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, and 5 moreMaritime and Underwater Archaeology, UNESCO 2001 Convention, Archaeology of Lebanon, UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, and Maritime Archaeology in Lebanon
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Maritime Archaeology, Levantine Archaeology, Lebanon, Nautical Archaeology, Traditional boatbuilding, and 7 moreLebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine (History and Archaeology), Ancient Timber Supply, Byblos, Ancient timber trade, Maritime and Nautical Archaeology, Timber Boatbuilding, and Archaeology of Lebanon
This thesis looks at the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Graeco-Roman period extending from the 8th century BC to... more
This thesis looks at the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Graeco-Roman period extending from the 8th century BC to the eve of Islam in the 7th century AD, and from the medieval Islamic period stretching from the 7th century AD to the 15th century AD. In doing so, it seeks to shed the light on timber trade and the timber exploitation processes; and examine how these were interlinked with the geopolitics and socio-economics of the time. It then portrays the Red Sea areas not only as wood importers from a wide array of regions such as the Mediterranean, East Africa, and South Asia, but also as beneficiaries of local wood resources for their boatbuilding needs. In that respect, it stresses that little attention has been given to the exploitation of local woods in favour of a greater reliance on Indian timber, and more specifically on teak. Thus, it suggests the need to consider other timber species than teak which were equally suitable for shipwrightry, as well as other western Indian Ocean wood providers. To illuminate and colour past interpretations of the subject, in addition to document a vanishing craftsmanship, this thesis has drawn on ethnographic research in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The ethnographic enquiry focused on the types of timber used in boatbuilding in the Red Sea and their vernacular names, the timber exploitation processes, and the factors and variables that come play in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography, this thesis aims to provide the field of maritime culture and maritime archaeology a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Maritime Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Management, Capacity Building, Underwater Archaeology, and 9 moreMediterranean archaeology, History of Modern Lebanon, Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology, Maritime Training and Education, Maritime and Underwater Archaeology, UNESCO Underwater cultural heritage, Maritime and Nautical Archaeology, ICOMOS, and Archaeology of Lebanon
The International Committee on the Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH) is one of ICOMOS’ (International Council on Monuments and Sites) International Scientific Committees. It was founded in 1991 to promote international cooperation in... more
The International Committee on the Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH) is one of ICOMOS’ (International Council on Monuments and Sites) International Scientific Committees. It was founded in 1991 to promote international cooperation in the protection and management of underwater cultural heritage and to advise ICOMOS on issues related to underwater cultural heritage around the world. The committee is composed of international experts, members of ICOMOS, in underwater cultural heritage. It currently has more than 60 members representing 47 countries, spanning the five geographical regions as defined by UNESCO: Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean. ICUCH’s first mandate led to the creation of the Charter on the Protection and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage, adopted by ICOMOS in 1996, which formed the basis of the Rules in the Annex of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Cultural Heritage (Paris 2001). Among its activities are to promote sound ethical management of underwater cultural heritage where in situ preservation is the first option; support scientific research, including both disturbance and non-disturbance activities; encourage public presentation of underwater cultural heritage and public participation in underwater cultural heritage; raise the profile and increase public awareness of the existence and value of the world’s underwater cultural heritage; promote ethical activities on and with underwater cultural heritage through facilitating development of national and regional cooperation, programs and legislation; encourage an inclusive approach to underwater cultural heritage; support, initiate and/or assist in education and capacity-building initiatives in respect of the management, research, protection, conservation and dissemination of underwater cultural heritage and provide information for governments, the general public and political organizations about the protection and preservation of underwater cultural heritage.