From thought-provoking lectures and international workshops to outreach initiatives and exciting new projects, March and April 2025 were vibrant months at CBRL, marked by meaningful engagement and knowledge-sharing across the region and beyond.

March-April 2025 Events Round-up

Exploring the Global Levant: A collaborative Workshop in Leicester

March ended on a high note with our two-day workshop, Global Levant during the Middle Ages, held in collaboration with the University of Leicester. The workshop studied the interconnectedness of the Levant and surrounding areas, including nomadic/sedentary lifestyles, urban/rural settlements, maritime trade and caravan routes/the Hajj.

Speakers included Dr Abdel Razeq Matani (Istanbul University), Dr Micaela Sinibaldi (University of Warsaw), Dr Ian Jones (New York University), Dr Dan Reynolds (University of Birmingham), Dr Stephen McPhillips (CNRS), Dr Carmen Ting (University of Leicester), Dr Veronica Occari (UCL), and Professor Andrew Petersen (University of Bradford). Professor Corisande Fenwick (UCL) delivered a fascinating keynote lecture. The results of the workshop will be a special issue of CBRL’s journal Levant, due for publication in 2026.

Public Archaeology in Sudan: Lessons in Heritage and Community 

On 7 April 2025, CBRL Amman Institute hosted a hybrid lecture titled “Public Archaeology in Action: Transferable Examples from Fieldwork in Sudan”, presented by Dr Jane Humphris, Director of CBRL. Drawing from over a decade of archaeological work in Sudan, particularly at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meroe, Dr Humphris discussed the challenges of heritage preservation and the development of community engagement strategies prior to the outbreak of conflict in April 2023. The lecture highlighted the importance of sustainable and inclusive public archaeology practices that can be adapted to various contexts.

Weaponising the Past: Lynn Meskell on Heritage and Conflict 

On 7 May 2025, the CBRL Amman Institute hosted an in-person lecture titled “RUINED: How and Why We Weaponise the Past” by Professor Lynn Meskell. In her talk, Professor Meskell explored how cultural heritage has become a strategic tool in modern conflicts, examining the roles of organisations like UNESCO and NATO in this dynamic. She discussed how heritage sites are increasingly militarised and politicised, serving both as instruments of peace and as targets in warfare. The lecture highlighted the complexities of preserving cultural heritage amidst contemporary geopolitical tensions.

News Feature: Lynn Meskell Lecture at CBRL Amman | Jordan Times

CBRL in Action: Outreach and Engagement

Preserving Memory Through Digitization: CBRL at the National Library Conference   

On 22 April 2025, Eman Shahin (Archive and Library Officer) and Rudaina Al-Momani (Senior Librarian) represented CBRL at the First International Conference of the Jordanian National Library, themed “The Role of National Libraries and Archives in Preserving National Memory in a Changing Digital Environment.” 

Their presentation, titled “Digitization of Rare Books and the Archive at the Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) – Jerusalem and Amman,” highlighted CBRL’s ongoing efforts to preserve and make accessible valuable historical materials through digitisation. 

CBRL’s Participation in the Career Day at the University of Jordan 

Bara’ah Alshorman (Events and Communications Officer) and Eman Shahin (Archive and Library Officer) represented CBRL in the Third Career Day hosted by the Faculty of Archaeology and Tourism at the University of Jordan on 4 May 2025. The event offered an opportunity to introduce students to CBRL’s work in heritage, research, and regional engagement. Students were also introduced to CBRL Amman’s facilities and encouraged to visit and engage with the centre’s resources and opportunities. 

New from CBRL

CBRL Launches New Podcast Series: Learning from the Levant 

A Space for Dialogue and Discovery: CBRL Reading Club Launch

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CBRL is committed to ongoing commitment to advancing research, encouraging dialogue, and engaging diverse audiences in the humanities and social sciences through activities and projects. From public lectures to new initiatives, each event contributed to a richer understanding of the Levant and its global connections.

We extend our sincere thanks to all who took part. We look forward to welcoming you to more CBRL events and programmes in the coming months.