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Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture AHM

Dr N.A. (Nour) Munawar

Faculty of Humanities
Capaciteitsgroep Archeologie
Photographer: © Salem Youssef
Visiting address
  • Turfdraagsterpad 9
Postal address
  • Postbus 94203
    1090 GE Amsterdam
Contact details
Social media
  • Profile

    Nour Munawar is an archaeologist and cultural heritage expert. He holds a PhD in heritage studies from the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Munawar’s expertise extends beyond the fields of heritage and memory studies, historical and contemporary archaeology, museum studies, and encompasses identity and heritage politics, uses of the past, narrative theory, heritage governance in national and international contexts, colonialism and postcolonialism, migration and diaspora, and decolonization of heritage and museology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the Arab region, Eastern Europe, and beyond. Before moving back to the Netherlands, Nour held positions at Brown University (USA), UCL-Qatar (Qatar), the University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands), and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (Qatar).

    Nour has widely published in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes in heritage studies, archaeology, and cultural studies. He is currently working on his book monograph titled “Rebuilding Syria: Cultural Heritage and Memory After Conflict” which is planned to be published by Edinburgh University Press. Munawar is also working on two edited volumes: one with Palgrave McMillan on the Politics of Post-Conflict Heritage Reconstruction, and the other with Routledge on Cultural Heritage in Post-Conflict in the MENA region.

    Munawar was recently awarded a prestigious grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) through the “NWO Talent Program – VENI scheme 2022” to conduct his research on "Decolonial Futures: Heritage, Memory, and Narratives in the Making in MENA". The project will be conducted at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), between December 2023 - November 2027.

    Nour has an international track record of media appearances aimed at both academic peers and general public. His public outreach activities include interviews in several international TV (Aljazeera), Qatari national TV (Qatar TV), Arab regional TV (Alaraby TV), national news agency (Qatar News Agency), Dutch newspaper (De Telegraph), media outlets (Folia Magazine of the UvA), European academic newsletters (European Archaeologist “TEA” of the European Association of Archaeologists), European media outlets (The Huffington Post Italy and SME svet Slovak newspaper), and popular magazine specials (Polandia TV). 

    Munawar is a very active member of the scientific community, a UNESCO expert on safeguarding cultural heritage, and a member of numerous international academic and professional organizations concerned with the cultural heritage management, such as, the International Council of Museums (ICOM), European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), the Association of Critical Heritage Studies (ACHS), the British Association of Near Eastern Archaeology (BANEA), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the RRR Network (Re-enactment, Replication, Reconstruction).

  • Publications

    2024

    • Munawar, N. A. (2024). Time to decolonise: ‘If not now’, then when? Journal of Social Archaeology. https://doi.org/10.1177/14696053231224321
    • Munawar, N. A., & Plets, G. (2024). Russia in Palmyra: Contextualizing the Kremlin’s Post-Conflict Heritage Rehabilitation Efforts. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 12(1), 63–78. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.12.1.0063
    • Saloul, I. A. M., Berrebi, S. Y., Munawar, N. A., & Panico, M. (2024). Heritage, Memory and Material Culture: Research-Teaching-Society Nexus. (History, Culture and Heritage). Amsterdam University Press. https://www.aup-online.com/content/proceedings/AHM-2024
    • Symonds, J., & Munawar, N. A. (2024). Empires of Lies? The Political Uses of Cultural Heritage in War. In M. Dawson (Ed.), War and the Historic Environment: The Effect of Conflict from Front Line Ukraine to Historic Namibia (1 ed., pp. 34-51). Routledge.

    2023

    2022

    • Munawar, N. A. (2022). Reconstructing narratives: The politics of heritage in contemporary Syria. Journal of Social Archaeology, 22(2), 172 – 190. https://doi.org/10.1177/14696053221073992
    • Munawar, N. A., & Symonds, J. (2022). Post-Conflict Reconstruction, forced migration & community engagement: the case of Aleppo, Syria. IJHS : International Journal of Heritage Studies, 28(9), 1017-1035. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2022.2117234 [details]
    • Symonds, J., & Munawar, N. (in press). Conflict Narratives: Cultural Heritage Practices in Post-War Syria. In A. Loeseke , & S. Wakefield (Eds.), Cultural Heritage in the Middle East and North Africa: Third Actors, Mediators, and De-centering Practices (Cultural Heritage Art and Museums in the Middle East). Routledge.

    2020

    2019

    2018

    2017

    2019

    • Munawar, N. A. (2019). Cultural Heritage and the Arab Spring: A Review of (Inter)National Efforts to Safeguard Heritage Under Fire. In C. Çakmak, & A. O. Özçelik (Eds.), The World Community and the Arab Spring (pp. 83-115). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60985-0_5 [details]

    2017

    2012

    • Munawar, N. A., & Elemans, L. (2012). The experience of the visitors of the Boshoverheide: the biggest prehistoric urnfield in the Netherlands. In J. van Donkersgoed, L. Elemans, & A. Rhebergen (Eds.), Out in the Field (pp. 12). Sidestone Press.

    2017

    • Munawar, N. A. (2017). Public Archaeology in Exile: A New Approach for Post-War Reconstruction. Paper presented at ICOMOS Workshop on Authenticity and Reconstructions, Paris, France.
    • Munawar, N. A. (2017). The Role Of Media in Postwar Heritage Reconstruction. Paper presented at Trauma Studies in the Digital Age, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
    • Munawar, N. A. (2017). Who Should Be the Decision-Makers in Post-Conflict Times?. Paper presented at British Association of Near Eastern Archaeology (BANEA) 2017 Conference, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
    • Munawar, N. A., & Morehouse, L. R. (2017). Whose Archaeology? A New Approach to Public Engagement in Post-Conflict Syria. Paper presented at Archaeology and Theory Conference: Power and Authority – an archaeologist’s friend or foe?, Groningen, Netherlands.

    2016

    • Munawar, N. A. (2016). Can Local People Preserve Cultural Heritage?. Paper presented at European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 22nd Annual Meeting, Vilnius, Lithuania.
    • Munawar, N. A. (2016). Destruction and Reconstruction of Heritage: Palmyra &The Way Forward. Paper presented at Symposium Iconoclasm: Beeldenstorm and Beyond, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
    • Munawar, N. A., & Symonds, J. (2016). Public Archaeology in Exile: Cultural Heritage and the Conflict in Syria. Paper presented at Bridging Ages Conference - 12th international conference, Kalmar, Sweden.

    Prize / grant

    Membership / relevant position

    • Munawar, N. (2023). International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Council of Museums (ICOM).
    • Munawar, N. (2022-). Middle East Studies Association (MESA).
    • Munawar, N. (2018). Member of RRR Network (Re-enactment, Replication, Reconstruction), RRR Network (Re-enactment, Replication, Reconstruction). https://rrr-network.com/
    • Munawar, N. (2016). British Association of Near Eastern Archaeology (BANEA).
    • Munawar, N. (2016). Member of UNESCO Roster of Experts on Emergency Safeguarding of the Syrian Cultural Heritage Project (ESSCH), UNESCO Roster of Experts on Syrian Heritage.
    • Munawar, N. (2016). European Association of Archaeologists (EAA).
    • Munawar, N. (2016). The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-Nederland).
    • Munawar, N. (2016). Scholar of Scholars at Risk Network (SAR).
    • Munawar, N. (2016-). British Association of Near Eastern Archaeology (BANEA).
    • Munawar, N. (2016-). European Association of Archaeologists (EAA).

    Media appearance

    Talk / presentation

    Others

    • Symonds, J. (organiser) & Munawar, N. (organiser) (31-8-2022 - 3-9-2022). European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 28th Annual Conference, Budapest. European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 28th Annual ConferenceEAA Budapest Session 320: Archaeologies of Displacement: Heritage, Memory, (…) (organising a conference, workshop, ...). https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2022/Programme/EAA2022/Programme
    • Symonds, J. (participant) & Munawar, N. (participant) (9-11-2021). European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 27th Annual Conference (Virtual), Kiel. Conference Paper: Conflict Narratives: The Politics of Cultural Heritage Management in Post-War Syria by Nour A. Munawar (Brown University, USA) & (…) (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (organiser), Symonds, J. (organiser), Saloul, I. A. M. (organiser) & Holtorf, . (organiser) (11-6-2019 - 14-6-2019). Thinking and Planning the Future in Heritage Management, Amsterdam. The ICOMOS University ForumOriginally instigated in 2015, the ICOMOS University Forum aims at mobilising more academics based at universities to get (…) (organising a conference, workshop, ...). https://www.icomos.org/en/documentation-center/54443-call-for-applications-thinking-and-planning-the-future-in-heritage-management
    • Munawar, N. (organiser), Kairiss, A. (organiser), Borș, C. (organiser), Bernard, E. (organiser) & Musteață, S. (organiser) (9-2018). EAA 2018 - European Association of Archaeologists, Barcelona. EAA 2018 - European Association of Archaeologists

      Organising a Session: Cultural Property: from looting and illegal trade to restitution (organising a conference, workshop, ...). https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2018/Programme.aspx?WebsiteKey=35414e88-a032-42d3-9e9b-d34ff524c79a&hkey=9ba73740-1809-47c0-bd96-13055196e087&Progr…
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (3-4-2018 - 7-4-2018). International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (ICAANE), Munich. Paper Presentation: Archaeologies at War: Modern Warfare and Cultural Heritage in Syria and Iraq (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (organiser) & Ungor, U. (organiser) (6-3-2018). Between Aleppo and Mosul, Amsterdam (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (organiser), Morehouse, L. R. (organiser), Saloul, I. A. M. (organiser) & Symonds, J. (chair) (3-11-2017 - 5-11-2017). CHAT 2017 (Contemporary Historical Archaeology in Theory) -Heritage, Memory, Art, and Agency - Conference, Amsterdam (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Symonds, J. (organiser), Saloul, I. A. M. (organiser), Morehouse, L. R. (organiser) & Munawar, N. A. (organiser) (2-11-2017 - 5-11-2017). CHAT 2017 (Contemporary Historical Archaeology in Theory) -Heritage, Memory, Art, and Agency - Conference, Amsterdam. CHAT 2017 —Heritage, Memory, Art, and Agency— will explore the relationship between contemporary and historical archaeology and cultural memory (…) (organising a conference, workshop, ...). http://www.chat2017.nl/programme/
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (30-8-2017 - 3-9-2017). European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 23rd Annual Meeting, Maastricht. Paper Presentation: Post-Conflict Archaeologies and Community Engagement (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (organiser), Morehouse, L. R. (organiser), Notroff, J. (organiser), Lostal, M. (organiser), Acosta Weirich, C. (organiser) & Symonds, J. (chair) (30-8-2017 - 3-9-2017). European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 23rd Annual Meeting, Maastricht. Session co-organizer: Art Crime and Stolen Heritage: Towards an Archaeological Consensus (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (9-7-2017 - 14-7-2017). Doctoral Summer School: Citizen Science – Nexus Between Research And Public Engagement, Zurich. League of European Research Universities (LERU) (participating in a conference, workshop, ...). http://www.grc.uzh.ch/en/calls/leru.html
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (23-6-2017). Future of Syrian Cultural Heritage, Leiden. Paper-Presentation: Representations of Heritage Destruction and (Re)construction (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (18-6-2017). Aleppo Weekend in Tropen Museum in Amsterdam, Amsterdam. Lecture: Rebuilding Aleppo in the Aftermath of War (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (12-6-2017 - 16-6-2017). Re-Enactment Replication Reconstruction Summer School, Leiden (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Dekker, A. (organiser), Munawar, N. A. (participant), Ersoy, Ö. (participant), Varvia, C. (participant) & Nankivell , S. (participant) (9-6-2017). Trafficking of cultural goods, London (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (13-3-2017 - 15-3-2017). ICOMOS University Forum Workshop on Authenticity and Reconstructions, Paris (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (9-2016). Destruction and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage Summer School, Heidelberg. Participation and Paper-Presentation: Public Archaeology and Conflict: A New approach for Post-War Reconstruction (participating in a conference, workshop, ...). https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/md/hcch/images/hcch2016summerschool.pdf
    • Munawar, N. (participant) (6-2016). UNESCO’s International Experts Conference to Safeguard Syria’s Cultural Heritage, Berlin. Follow-up to the implementation of the UNESCO Action Plan for the Emergency Safeguarding of Syria’s Cultural Heritage (participating in a conference, workshop, ...). http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/syrian_and_international_experts_agree_on_emergency_measures/
    • Morehouse, L. (organiser), Munawar, N. A. (organiser), Symonds, J. (organiser) & Saloul, I. A. M. (organiser) (2016 - 2017). CHAT 2017 (Contemporary Historical Archaeology in Theory) -Heritage, Memory, Art, and Agency - Conference, Amsterdam (organising a conference, workshop, ...).

    2021

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  • Ancillary activities
    • UNESCO
      Consultant Specialist (Researcher)
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