Author Description

This book, just like the exhibit that it illustrates, presents the very particular story of an archaeological site in Syria, during the recent eight years of war. The ancient city of Urkesh, today Tell Mozan, in Northeastern Syria, became a center of activities that developed around the archaeological site, a strong and unexpected synergy between a variety of communities and social groups. In strong contrast with the destructive violence of war and the intentional and perverted iconoclastic fury of ISIS, Urkesh has emerged as a source of hope and a reason of pride for the people who live in the area. In this perspective, the project became a model of this new sensitivity that archaeology as a discipline is developing - a sensitivity towards the value of the land as a shared element between the ancients and the people who live there today.