皇家华人

A collaborative network including UCL historians is supporting a sustainable approach to heritage in post-conflict Iraq through locally-led research and advocacy that retells the story of Iraq's past.

The Nahrein Network听has pioneered a new approach to research on heritage, history and the humanities in Iraq and its neighbours, driven by twin challenges of demographic change and systemic exclusion from听international听academia in a highly fragile post-conflict state.听听听

鈥淭he whole region听is听suffering听the effects of听war, and many minority groups and young people听feel听marginalised,鈥澨齟xplains Professor Eleanor Robson听(UCL听History), who leads the Nahrein Network.听听听

The听network听includes听experts听at 皇家华人, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford,听and听Sulaimani听Polytechnic University and Al-Qadisiyah听universities in听Iraq.听Funded via the AHRC and Global Challenges Research Fund, the network听is supporting a range of听projects听and collaborative research programmes.听听听

This听enables听people across the region to听use their ideas and expertise to听reinterpret the region鈥檚听past听as local history,听and supports locally听led interdisciplinary research that will have sustainable economic and social benefits.听

To date, the network has supported 19 projects across听Iraq, Turkey and Lebanon听and听run听successful听workshops听on research skills across the region.听It has also funded 15 scholarship placements in the UK.听This听multi-faceted听approach has led听to听newly interpreted听collections in听libraries and听museums,听public lectures and听cultural networks.听

鈥�鈥淭he Nahrein Network has promoted a people-first strategy to building effective support for heritage in Iraq.鈥澨�

One project, led by an Iraqi听artist,听examines听the听links听between听traditional boat听building听and ancient forms.听The听Thesiger鈥檚听Tarada听project听compares听details of听Iraq鈥檚 marsh canoes,听gathered from听oral histories and archive research, with archaeological data on similar boats听from ancient times.听听

Events听involving听local boat builders, sheikhs and听project partners such as Nature Iraq and Basra Museum, have听brought听history听to life听and led to听a touring exhibition听for Iraqi museums听that听explores听the history of听this ancient craft听and supports its revival for use in local tourism.听听听

鈥淪ince 2017,听the Nahrein Network has听promoted a people-first strategy听to听building effective support for heritage in Iraq and is advising policymakers in the Iraqi cultural sector,鈥澨齟xplains听Professor Robson.听鈥漌e are听helping to听decolonise histories of the ancient Middle East听and supporting new ways to听promote Iraq鈥檚 history.鈥澨�