Since 2018, INHERIT has been working with partners in Iraq and an international team of cultural heritage professionals on 'Archaeological Practice and Heritage Protection in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq'.
The project has now been completed, having delivered training programmes, archaeological field surveys and excavation as well as two new museum spaces and resources for schools.
During February 2019 INHERIT director Aphrodite Sorotou worked with the project partners to deliver a series of training workshops in Suleymaniyah for antiquities officials, archaeologists and students from all parts of the Kurdistan Region. September 2019 saw the launch of new museum resources that will enable children in Iraqi Kurdistan to learn about their archaeology and history, and explore their heritage and identity. 'Slemani Museum Kids' is a new museum space aimed at engaging children with the archaeology and history of the Slemani region. The majority of the region’s museum visitors are school children however, in a period of sustained armed conflict and economic crisis, museums have struggled to cater for children’s needs. The other new space - in the Garmian Civilizations Museum in Kalar - is aimed at audiences of all ages, encouraging visitors to reflect on the protection of the region’s unique heritage.
Short video talks by archaeologists and heritage experts as well as downloadable educational resources are available from the project website.
The project is led by the University of Glasgow and the partners in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are the Directorate of Antiquities of Slemani Governate, the Slemani Museum and the Garmian Civilizations Museum in Kalar. The work has been funded by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund, in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.