Ahmad Mohammed

Project Co-ordinator

What do you do?

I am a PhD researcher at Durham University, specialising in material culture and settlement archaeology. My research focuses on pottery production in Egypt, using ethnoarchaeological methods to explore ancient workshop dynamics. I am the Assistant Editor for World Archaeology and a member of the Sais Excavation Mission. As the EAMENA Project Coordinator, I help preserve endangered cultural heritage sites in the Middle East, employing GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis to address issues such as inequality in ancient Egypt.

How are you involved in this area of science? 

As Project Co-ordinator for the EAMENA project, I manage financial reporting, organize workshops, and deliver training sessions. I also oversee smaller projects, such as the Map Project, which involves digitising, cataloguing, ensuring copyright compliance, and making maps freely accessible to researchers.

Additionally, I manage EAMENA's social media presence and oversee our MOOCs on assessing and preserving cultural heritage in the Middle East on FutureLearn. I collaborate closely with partners across the Middle East, ensuring effective communication and project delivery. 

What do you love about this topic?

What I love most about my work with the EAMENA project is the opportunity to actively contribute to preserving endangered cultural heritage in the Middle East. The collaboration with local communities and international teams allows me to combine cutting-edge technologies, like GIS and remote sensing, with meaningful, hands-on efforts to protect and document archaeological sites.

I find great fulfilment in empowering others through training and capacity-building, and I enjoy making valuable resources, like digitized maps, accessible to researchers. Seeing how our collective efforts can help safeguard cultural heritage for future generations is incredibly rewarding. 

How does this work deliver real-world impact?

The EAMENA project delivers real-world impact by safeguarding endangered archaeological sites across the Middle East and North Africa through advanced technologies like GIS, remote sensing, and automated change detection. By providing training and resources to local heritage professionals, we build capacity for sustainable cultural heritage management.

The digitisation and free accessibility of maps empower researchers and institutions, facilitating more effective research and site protection. Our work helps raise awareness about heritage threats and supports proactive conservation efforts, ensuring that invaluable cultural assets are preserved and protected for future generations in the face of modern challenges.