| True to its foundational principles, the World Archaeological Congress plans its first “Middle East” meeting to highlight the powerful relationship between archaeology, heritage and political context. The archaeology of the West Bank and its surrounding region carries particular weight as the primary means by which the three monotheistic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- trace their origins. Yet the archaeological and cultural heritage of this region has suffered constant and extensive damage due directly to contemporary and past struggles for control over the region.
Today, as Palestine moves closer than ever to official statehood, WAC takes note of the destructive politics of Israeli-Palestinian relationships by marking both the damage suffered to the archaeological record and the potential of a shared cultural heritage to build towards peace. We call for participation in this strategic InterCongress to demonstrate how archaeology can serve political ends for the greater good.
The focus of this InterCongress is on structural violence: the insidious structures and the stark inequalities that perpetuate conflicts. Structural violence is built into western countries' relations with much of the rest of the world, preventing most non-western countries from becoming economically and culturally 'equal' to the West. Often structural violence is hidden and works without overt physical infringement, making it all the more effective.
As anthropologists, archaeologists, cultural heritage professionals, and concerned local community members, we ask what role archaeological and cultural heritage research has in overcoming these 'in-built' obstacles? Must we engage against structural violence outside of archaeological practice, or can archaeological practice confront and impact the ravages of structural violence?
Sessions and panels will be held on October 26th and October 27th. October 28th, 29th and 30th are reserved for workshops, ‘hands on’ experiences and tours of the region by regional cultural heritage non-government organizations. Closing sessions and consideration of InterCongress resolutions will take place on October 31st.
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