Research Projects
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Monument Watch
Project Type Cartography, Inventory Institution Type Independent research Affiliated Institution Independent Methods Cartography Geographic Area Armenia, Azerbaijan Website https://monumentwatch.org/en/ Summary Monument Watch is an independent academic platform created to record and present the condition and changes of Artsakh Cultural Heritage. It provides mapping and inventory of the immovable cultural heritage, monuments, museums, and cultural centers, while monitoring their current state and providing alerts on destruction, alteration, reuse, deletion, and modification of sculptures, images, inscriptions, and the use of new symbols, among others.
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Conflict Antiquities
Project Type Blog Institution Type Independent Methods OSINT Geographic Area Iraq, Syria, Turkey Website https://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/ Summary On a personal blog, the archaeologist Samuel Hardy studies the illicit trade in antiquities and the destruction of cultural heritage in a context of economic crisis, organized crime, and armed conflict, concentrating on the analysis of crimes against cultural heritage and communal property. His research also addresses the use and abuse of cultural heritage (appropriation, vandalism) as well as its social, economic, and political contexts. His main area of study is Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey, with some coverage of other regions.
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EAMENA
Project Type Documentation, Cartography Institution Type University Affiliated Institution Oxford University (UK) Methods Satellite Imagery / GIS Geographic Area Middle East, North Africa Website https://eamena.org/ Summary LEAMENA (Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa) is a project that seeks to census, analyze, and protect threatened archaeological sites across the MENA region. It uses satellite imagery, aerial photography, and GIS to document sites, assess risks, and update an open database. Its main objective is to create an inventory that is accessible and usable for research and cultural heritage management, while also training local professionals, developing digital capabilities, and supporting international cooperation for heritage preservation.
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The Arab Network of Civil Society Organizations to Safeguard Cultural Heritage (ANSCH)
Project Type Network, Damage Tracking Type d’institution NGO Affiliated Institution Heritage for Peace Geographic Area Syria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen Website https://ansch.heritageforpeace.org/ Summary The project seeks to reinforce cooperation between NGOs, public authorities, and local communities to identify, document, manage, and protect archaeological sites, monuments, and museums. It is active primarily in zones impacted by conflict (Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen) by developing coordination, training, and support tools for local actors.
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Research on Armenian Architecture Foundation
Project Type Research, Documentation Institution Type Foundation Methods Cartography Geographic Area Armenia Website https://artsakhmonuments.org/public/en Summary Artsakh Monuments is a scholarly platform developed by the Research on Armenian Architecture Foundation, which seeks to inventory, study, and disseminate knowledge on material heritage of Artsakh. It offers a database of 3,000 monuments with detailed descriptions, maps, images, and typological classifications.
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Armenian heritage scanning project
Project type Documentation Institution type NGO Parent institution Armenian Cultural Heritage Institute / TUMO Methods 3D digitization Geographic area Armenia Website https://armenianculturalheritageinstitute.org/en Summary The initiative seeks to digitally document key monuments in Armenia. The online platform is continuously updated with new data and discoveries. Digital twins of monuments are not only precious resources for scholars but also accessible pedagogical tools and aids to the production of digital public media.
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Alliance for research on cultural heritage in Europe
Project Type Research, Network Institution Type European Consortium Affiliated Institution European Union Website https://www.heritageresearch-hub.eu/arche-home/# Summary ARCHE – Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe is a European initiative that strives to organize and coordinate research in the patrimonial sciences. It brings together several partners to define common priorities, establish a strategy (SRIA), and strengthen cooperation between institutions. The project rests on prospective analyses, consultations, and networking, rather than work in the field. Its objective is to better orient research financing and policies for the long term.
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Aliph Museums in Yemen: Safeguarding and Archiving Museum Objects, Yemen
Project type Conservation Institution type University Parent institution CEPAM-CNRS Methods Inventories, safeguarding of collections Geographic area Yemen Website https://www.cepam.cnrs.fr/contact/lamya-khalidi/
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Emergency Assessment of Threats to Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh
Project type Documentation, Cartography Institution type University Parent institution University of Durham (UK) Methods Satellite imagery, GIS Geographic area Armenia, Azerbaijan Website https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/archaeology/research/archaeology-research-projects/emergency-assessment-of-threats-to-heritage-in-nagorno-karabakh/ Summary The project seeks to establish a reference list of archaeological sites and historical monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh, covering all periods and communities. It then evaluates their conservation status, primarily through satellite imagery and open sources. A resulting status report as of 2022 facilitates tracking of future changes. Each site is documented (location, type, date, extent, condition, and threats) with particular attention to damage that can be observed from the air.
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Caucasus Heritage Watch
Project type Documentation, Research Institution type University Parent institution Cornell University Methods Satellite imagery, Cartography (GIS) Geophraphic area Armenia, Azerbaijan Website https://caucasusheritage.cornell.edu Summary The Caucasus Heritage Watch (CHW) programme, led by Cornell University, is a research initiative founded in 2020 to monitor and document threatened cultural heritage in the South Caucasus, particularly in Nagorno-Karabakh. It uses satellite imagery to track the condition of sites in near real time and conducts historical analyses of heritage erasure. Its goal is to produce evidence, strengthen political accountability and alert the international community, while contributing to heritage preservation in a conflict context.
