Publications
Resisting and Remaking Heritage Work: An Archaeology of the Surface in Acre's Old City
Acre's Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, reveals how Palestinian residents selectively appropriate heritage narratives to challenge state-led tourism development. Through photographic surface surveys, researchers document local practices—such as bread offerings for animals and fishermen—that reflect aesthetic values while subverting dominant heritage discourses. This study highlights an alternative theorization of heritage that balances historical significance with livability, offering a counter-narrative to Israel's international tourist promotion efforts.
Deterioration of Sandstone in the Historical and Contemporary Sea Walls upon the Impact of the Natural and Man-Made Hazards
A rapid deterioration of porous calcarenite sandstone, known as 'kurkar,' was observed in contemporary sea walls along the pedestrian seashore zone of Acre, Israel, within a few years. The study identified that adhering kurkar siding with cement mortar and subsequent exposure to a humid, salt-enriched offshore environment with high air pollution were the primary causes of this deterioration. In contrast, historic walls built from dimensional kurkar stone remain structurally sound, suggesting that the construction method plays a significant role in the material's longevity.
Street‐naming, tourism development and cultural conflict: the case of the Old City of Acre/Akko/Akka
Place-naming in the Old City of Acre, Israel, serves as both a tool for tourism development and a catalyst for cultural conflict. The study reveals that official street names, often chosen by development agencies like the Acre Development Company, clash with the oral naming systems used by local Arab residents, leading to symbolic struggles over the city's identity. While prior research focused on prestige or profit motivations in place-naming, this work uniquely examines tourism-driven naming and its societal implications, including resident reactions and contested identities. The analysis combines historical context with qualitative methods to uncover how naming processes reflect broader tensions between heritage preservation, commercialization, and local agency.
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