ASOR’s Syrian Heritage Initiative will be hosting a public Symposium at the 2014 ASOR Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 23 at The Westin San Diego hotel. We hope that ASOR Annual Meeting attendees will stay through Sunday to participate in this exciting and important event. We also invite the general public or anyone attending the BAS, SBL, or other conferences to attend.

The goals of the Symposium are to raise awareness about the challenges facing Syrian cultural heritage preservation and to provide a forum where heritage specialists and the public can engage in discussions about ASOR’s Syrian Heritage Initiative.

The Symposium will include two sessions that are open to the general public. Tickets are required for the Luncheon (we are charging less than our cost for the meal), which will feature a keynote presentation on looting in the region—especially the role of the Islamic State in this looting. The afternoon sessions will feature principal team members who will introduce the major aspects of the Syrian Heritage Initiative: cultural heritage communications, satellite remote sensing and mapping, and preservation planning and training. The Discussion Period (featuring international experts on Syrian heritage) will address the topic of cultural heritage protection in areas of conflict.

Luncheon
12:15 – 1:45 pm
Crystal Ballroom 1

Welcome and Updates: ASOR President Susan Ackerman, ASOR Board Chair B. W. Ruffner, and Catherine P. Foster, Cultural Property Analyst

Project Updates and Discussion (Free and Open to the Public)
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Crystal Ballroom 2

• Abdal-Razzaq Moaz, “The Importance of the Syrian Heritage Initiative” (25 min.)
• Michael Danti, “A View From the Ground: Cultural Heritage Communications and Weekly Reports” (25 min.)
• Jesse Casana, “A View From Above: Satellite Remote Sensing” (20 min.)
• Scott Branting, “A View From Above: Mapping and Geospatial Integration” (20 min.)
• LeeAnn Barnes Gordon, “A View Forward: Preservation and Risk Management” (20 min.)
• Brief Reports From Other Projects (30 min.)
• Discussion (40 min.)

Reservations: Tickets are required for the Luncheon and can be purchased online. Please understand that ASOR is charging less than our cost from the hotel for the meal. A limited number of scholarships to cover the meal are available—please e-mail info@asor.org for information. Reservations are recommended for the Project Updates and Discussion and can be made by contacting info@asor.org.

For questions about the Symposium, please contact info@asor.org.