ReLand Archaeological Project (Resurfacing Landscapes of the Mosul Dam Reservoir)

Sconzo Paola, University of Palermo

The ReLand project was established in January 2023 out of the cooperation between the University of Palermo and the General Directorate of Antiquities of Duhok (Kurdistan Region of Iraq – KRI). The project aims to develop a comprehensive research programme that would allow to assess the impact of water level fluctuations in the Mosul Dam basin on the archaeological heritage of the Upper Tigris region of Iraq, which counts over 275 archaeological sites of significant interest.

Through a combination of data compilation and bibliographical studies, remote analysis, and field interventions
employing state-of-the-art technology, the project seeks to rapidly identify the most vulnerable sites, assess their state of preservation, conduct targeted rescue operations, and define and field-test a ‘best practice’ protocol that encompasses monitoring and preservation techniques, methods, and procedures to support the planning of future intervention strategies by local antiquities directorates. The project actively trains local archaeologists.

The first field campaign took place in the Spring of 2023 with a salvage excavation of the Early Bronze Age cemetery
of Cham Pashaya, thanks to the ASOR Shepard Urgent Action Grant. After this, a second monitoring survey campaign
followed, which was co-financed by the MAECI.

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