Land of Kufa survey and training project

The aim of the project is to systematically survey the north-eastern part of the Kufa region to provide a detailed understanding of the settlement pattern and occupational history of the north-eastern part of the Kufa governorate from the earliest period of occupation until the Islamic period. The relation between ancient cities and the surrounding landscape will be also tackled through geoarchaeological researches which will allow to reconstruct the ancient hydraulic landscape of the region. This project also aims to achieve several benefits addressed to both the local communities and the scientific world. The research outcomes will be framed within a long-term perspective and planned with a view to achieve the sharing of cultural heritage and of scientific knowledge of the Qadisiyah region with national and international academic in the field. The project has two main complementary purposes: 1. To study and document the development of settlement patterns and water channel systems from the earliest period of occupation to the Islamic epoch in the north-eastern region of Kufa. 2. To train local members of the SBAH and the UoK in modern survey techniques including, topography, orthophogrammetric survey and pottery study.