oral history a source for cultural and natural heritage

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018

Deutsches Archäologisches Institut

Oral History A source for cultural and natural

heritage documentation

A case study from the Eastern Sector of the Syrian Steppe

(Badia)

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


© DGAM

Introduction of the researcher

1- My name is Hasan Morei Ali

2- I have a Bachelor Degree in Archaeology from Damascus University- Syria (2003).

3- I worked for the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria, in the Palmyra Museum in

excavations and documentation works for the archaeological sites and buildings in the Syrian Badia

(desert).

4- After the arrival of ISIS to Palmyra in 2015, I fled with family to Gaziantep, where I worked in teaching

history and Syrian heritage as well as the creation of Mosaics for Syrian youth at Al-Sankari Humanitarian

foundation.

5- In 2016, I was successful in the application the Stewards of Cultural Heritage Program scholarship at the

German Archaeological Institute in Istanbul. Within this scholarship my project is about the use of Oral

History as a source for cultural and natural heritage documentation. With this research, I managed to fulfil

my dream in documenting the heritage of the Syrian Badia, which has been partially neglected for many

years in comparison with the antique city of Palmyra.

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


Before explaining my project, I would like to define the Syrian Badia

Syrian Badia/desert (which is the area with less than 200 ml annual rain fall) extends over eight

governorates of Syria, the largest of which is Homs. Palmyra’s Badia is the second largest with ca. 3

million hectares

By Near East and North Africa Division Programme Management Department The International Fund for Agricultural Development - SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC -

INTEGRATED LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT- Final Project Design Report by IFAD 2006 ,Pg. 7

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


The project

- I divided the territory of Palmyra of the Syrian Steppes (Badia) to four sectors, and I chose the Eastern

Sector as a case study.

- For the purpose of this documentation, I relied on conducting interviews with the local population of

the Syrian Badia, who have been displaced during the conflict and have settled in several Turkish cities

(especially southern cities).

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


Nizar suliman

hassan Suliman

Ahmad Hamood

Ahmad Al-Zoubi

Tark Nadiwi

Abo Sarhan

Ahmad Hamada

Ata Allah Hossin

Hamada Dedo Kaldon Zagaba

Raabi Omair

Zakaria Al-Zoubi

Hain Aisha

Tysir Rashid

Sfoan Fozat

Adnan kim

Nedal Gaman

Haj Yasin Kim

Mahmoud Knawi

Samia Deeab Abdu Al-

Razzaq Al - katib

Borhan Al-Katib

I was able to conduct 100 interviews in total with different categories of the local

population. Therefore, these interviews were abundant in information. I reached more

interviewees by the snowball effect system.

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


These interviews were abundant in information. Then I gathered the information into one

file for each natural or cultural site. The file Includes checklist, pictures, charts...

The old name of the site: Al-Bsher

The current name of the site: Al-Bishrı

munt

Registration number and date DGAM :

Governorate:

Homs

City:

Palmyra

Village :

Height above the

surrounding :

Altitude : GPS: N E

The current situation to the site :

Previous restorations:

Previous excavations:

Geographical Information :

Chronology

Modern

19 century

Islamic

Ottoman

Classical

N/A

Old East

N/A

Prehistory

N/A

Historical information :

Archaeological finds:

Architectural description:

Surroundings description :

The information provided by witnesses :

References :

Attachments:

Photos, charts, maps, video

The checklist format

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


As a final product of my research, the results (except the audio file, which is not accessible to the

public) were collected in an interactive map, offered online in English and will soon be translated into

Arabic. The purpose of the map is to give the opportunity to first access the information about the sites

and allow the local population to add further information about sites they are familiar with. This is the

link for the interactive map (https://sybadiahistory.com).

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


I hope in the future follow up on the documentation of heritage sites in the other sectors of the

Syrian Badia.

Soon I will publish a book about the methodology and research steps which I followed it.

Abteilung Istanbul

Hasan Ali / 07.09.2018


Thank you for your attention

oral history a source for cultural and natural heritage

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