Maritime endangered archaeology of the Middle East and North Africa: the MarEA project

Andreou, Georgia M.; Blue, Lucy; Breen, Colin; Safadi, Crystal El; Huigens, Harmen O.; Nikolaus, Julia; Ortiz-Vázquez, Rodrigo; Westley, Kieran

doi:10.15184/aqy.2020.196

Cited by 21 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Results are compared to data from the better-researched High Mountains region, which includes the Saint Catherine World Heritage Area, generated by the EAMENA and Sinai Peninsula Research (SPR) projects. The ongoing MarEA and EAMENA projects rely on openly accessible satellite imagery, aerial photography and published documentation to identify archaeological and heritage sites in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, assess their condition, and identify any threats (Bewley et al 2016 ; Andreou et al 2020 ). These sites or ‘heritage places’ are documented in an online database, hosted by the University of Oxford, along with an assessment of their condition, the type of damage and possible threats ( https://eamena.org/database ; Rayne et al 2017 :1; Zerbini 2018 ; Ten Harkel and Fisher 2021 ).…”

Section: Methodology: Marea Eamena and Sprmentioning

confidence: 99%

From the Coast to the High Mountains: A Remote Sensing Survey of Disturbances and Threats to the Archaeology and Heritage of South Sinai

2022

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The archaeology and heritage of South Sinai is rich and varied. Most research to date has focused on the High Mountains, specifically the area around the famous St Catherine’s Monastery, placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002 (Saint Catherine Area, World Heritage Site 954). Recently, the Sinai Peninsula Research and the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa projects have focused on the landscape surrounding the St Catherine’s Monastery. These projects highlighted the wealth of archaeological and heritage sites spanning the prehistoric to modern periods, including sites that are still in use by local communities today, as well as the environmental and anthropogenic factors that threaten their survival, such as climate change, tourism, and the impact of infrastructure developments. By contrast, the archaeology and heritage of the coastal areas was never surveyed systematically until the research presented in this paper. Remote sensing work by the Maritime Endangered Archaeology project revealed a coastal landscape that is likewise rich in archaeological and heritage sites. As in the High Mountains, many of the coastal sites are under significant threat, but they do not enjoy the same level of recognition and protection. This paper compares the coastal sites to those in the High Mountains, including their disturbances and threats, and demonstrates the need for a locally specific heritage management and protection strategy for different parts of South Sinai.

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Section: Methodology: Marea Eamena and Sprmentioning

confidence: 99%

From the Coast to the High Mountains: A Remote Sensing Survey of Disturbances and Threats to the Archaeology and Heritage of South Sinai

2022

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“…The MarEA project aims to document the MCH of the entire coastal and near-shore zone both on land and underwater across the MENA region (Andreou et al 2020 ). Through a partnership of the Universities of Southampton and Ulster, the MarEA team have adopted the principles of the EAMENA project with respect to the methodology of documentation, data capture, storage and dissemination (Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For millennia, the Middle East and North Africa ( MENA) region has been a culturally dynamic zone, bounded by maritime societies dependent on the sea for communication, trade and livelihoods (Broodbank 2013 ; Bewley et al 2016 ; Andreou et al 2020 ). From the earliest fisher communities through to Bronze Age Phoenician traders and the empires of Greece and Rome, the communities who lived across this region both depended upon and were intrinsically connected to the sea.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, this resource is facing unprecedented levels of threat and impact from both natural and human processes of change. The Maritime Endangered Archaeology project (MarEA), funded by the Arcadia Fund, was established in 2019 to document and quantify this threat, and provide a baseline assessment of the nature and stability of these sites and landscapes (Andreou et al 2020 ). This volume presents some initial results from the project, through the publication of a series of important area and regional case studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Documenting, Protecting and Managing Endangered Maritime Cultural Heritage in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

et al. 2022

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For millennia, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been a culturally dynamic zone, bounded by maritime societies dependent on the sea for communication, trade and livelihoods. The archaeological evidence of these past societies represents an extraordinary physical legacy of human endeavour and presence across this region, contributing to senses of place, identity and belonging amongst contemporary coastal communities. However, the coastal landscapes and marine environment of the MENA region are undergoing a period of profound change, associated with large-scale human development and climate change. In order to assess this change and the level of impact on the resource, the Maritime Endangered Archaeology project (MarEA) was established in 2019 to document cultural heritage sites and landscapes across the coastal and near-shore zones of the survey region. This paper introduces the work of the project and outlines a series of case studies presented in this volume that are representative of the variety and depth of work being undertaken within the project.

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“…The present study employed the methodology of site documentation as outlined in the introductory paper by Breen et al (see also Andreou et al 2020) to document and assess threats to maritime archaeological sites across the coastline of Oman. This methodology combines published historical and archaeological information (excavations and surveys), with new evidence identified through close examination of publicly available (Google Earth Pro) and purchased (PlanetScope) satellite imagery.…”

Section: Maritime Cultural Heritage In Omanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Oman’s Maritime Cultural Heritage Through the Lens of Al-Baleed, Salalah (Dhofar Governorate)

et al. 2022

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Tropical cyclones are among the most detrimental hazards to the environment, societies, and economies, each year affecting millions of people and resulting in substantial casualties and material destructions in coastal communities. In this context, maritime cultural heritage, encompassing material evidence for the engagement of people with the sea, both on land and under water, is particularly vulnerable. Despite the significant number of archaeological sites exposed to tropical cyclones and other extreme sea-level events, maritime cultural heritage in the MENA region is rarely included in coastal vulnerability indices or incorporated in mitigation strategies, disaster management, sustainability, and resilience policies. In this study we examine the impact of tropical cyclones on the maritime archaeology of Oman with emphasis on the Dhofar region. This paper builds on existing coastal research in the Dhofar region—an area identified as the most cyclone-prone administrative region in Oman, but also an area that contains substantial archaeological remains. Central among Dhofar’s maritime cultural heritage is Al-Baleed, a Medieval seaport with unparalleled evidence of engagement with international trade networks.

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Maritime endangered archaeology of the Middle East and North Africa: the MarEA project

Abstract: Abstract

Cited by 21 publications

References 16 publications

From the Coast to the High Mountains: A Remote Sensing Survey of Disturbances and Threats to the Archaeology and Heritage of South Sinai

From the Coast to the High Mountains: A Remote Sensing Survey of Disturbances and Threats to the Archaeology and Heritage of South Sinai

Documenting, Protecting and Managing Endangered Maritime Cultural Heritage in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

Exploring the Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Oman’s Maritime Cultural Heritage Through the Lens of Al-Baleed, Salalah (Dhofar Governorate)

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