Publications
De Mari a Babilonia: ciudades fortificadas en la antigua Mesopotamia
A new interpretation of Babylon's inner defensive wall challenges traditional views on Mesopotamian urban fortifications, revealing complex evolutionary patterns in city defense systems. The study integrates archaeological and textual evidence from Mari (northern Mesopotamia, 3rd-2nd millennium BCE) and Babylon (southern Mesopotamia, 2nd-1st millennium BCE), demonstrating how these structures adapted to shifting warfare dynamics. By analyzing architectural propaganda, military texts, and construction techniques—such as those documented in Neo-Assyrian records and Mari’s palatial archives—the research highlights the symbolic and functional duality of walls as both civilizational markers and strategic defenses. This approach bridges gaps between material remains and textual sources, offering insights into the political and military significance of fortified cities in ancient Mesopotamia.
Sacred Spaces and Liminal Behavior in Levantine Temples in Antis
A widespread cultural tradition marked by sacred spaces and liminal behaviors, associated with temples 'in antis,' united Levantine societies despite political fragmentation during the Middle Bronze Age. This architectural form, spanning from the Late Bronze Age to the early Iron Age, facilitated recognizable ritual practices such as feasting and material deposition, linking towns and villages in localized polities. Archaeological evidence at Tell el-Hayyat, Jordan, and Pella (ancient Piḫilu) reveals coordinated temple construction and rebuilding, suggesting shared religious traditions across Greater Syria. The study identifies temples 'in antis' as a key element of a broader Middle Bronze Age cultural koinè, characterized by distinct ritual behaviors and material culture, which persisted despite local political instability.
Book Review of Rural Cult Centres in the Hauran: Part of the Broader Network of the Near East (100 BC–AD), by Francesca Mazzilli
Rural sanctuaries in the Hauran region of southern Syria and northern Jordan, totaling 57 sites, were not merely religious spaces but vibrant 'cult centres' integral to human activities from 100 BCE to 300 CE. Francesca Mazzilli's book challenges traditional perceptions by reframing these sanctuaries as dynamic hubs of cultural exchange and economic interaction within the broader Near Eastern network. Drawing on her doctoral research, Mazzilli employs a multifaceted approach, integrating archaeological evidence with historical context to illustrate the multifunctional roles these sites played in ancient societies.
Documentation of some Cultural Heritage Emergencies in Syria In August 2010 by Spherical Photrammetry
A pioneering application of spherical photogrammetry demonstrates that even non-professional, hand-held photographic documentation can yield valuable metric data for cultural heritage preservation, despite deviations from standard survey protocols. This approach successfully generated usable restitutions and plottings from images taken during a 2010 tourist trip in Syria, proving its utility for emergency documentation when formal survey methods are unattainable due to threats such as war. The study highlights the potential of rapid, accessible techniques in safeguarding endangered World Heritage Sites, including those inscribed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger—six Syrian properties threatened by conflict. While the method's precision is compromised compared to tripod-based surveys, it offers a critical alternative for reconstructive efforts and documentation gaps.
Historical and cultural landscape of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
The Ancient Villages of Northern Syria exemplify a unique cultural landscape where architecture and nature merge seamlessly, challenging traditional distinctions between the two. This study highlights that such landscapes, shaped by human activity over time, form a harmonious unity with their natural surroundings, reflecting deep cultural significance. The research draws on philosophical perspectives, notably Le Corbusier's emphasis on landscape integration in architectural design, to argue for the preservation of these relict areas as vital components of national heritage. By analyzing the interplay between space, culture, and nature, the study underscores the importance of recognizing historical and cultural landscapes as distinct categories of heritage deserving urgent conservation efforts.
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