ASOR is pleased to shared this report on the workshop was held in the city of Hun, the municipality of Al-Jufra, from 28 February to 5 March, 2023. The focus of the workshop was climate change and its impact on the cultural heritage of Libya. The workshop was made possible by the Office of Cultural Affairs at the US Embassy in Tripoli Libyan External Office (LEO) and our partners working on the Libyan National Museum Suitcase Project.

Partners:
Al-Jufra Commission for Scouts and Guides. Hun Regiment for Scouts and Girl Guides. Office of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development Al-Jufra. Thakirat Almadena (City Memory) Association. Community company group. Al-Jufra Local Radio. Royya (Vision) Foundation for Weather and Space Sciences. Hon meteorological station. Faculty of Arts, Al-Jufra University. Cloud Pollution Control Association Hon. College of Natural Resources, Al-Jufra University. Tourist Police and Al-Jufra Antiquities Protection. Amal Charity Association Hon. Other archaeology and history researchers and interested parties.

Approximately 105 people attended and participated in the activities and events of the workshop.

First day
27 February, 2023:

Visiting the original ancient city in Hun, called Al-Huwaila. Because of the continuous climatic changes and the increase in drought and desertification, this ancient city was completely covered by sand, and its inhabitants abandoned it to another ancient city in the heart of present-day Hun.

An expanded working session with members of Thakirat Almadena the Memory of the City Association and members of the Community Partnership Group. The session took place at the headquarters of the City Museum, which was the headquarters of the Italian military administration, and it is a beautiful palace built in the twenties of the last century. The session was for preparations for the theoretical side of tomorrow’s workshop, as well as studying the possibility of installing a solar energy unit to manage the building. In addition to building a real partnership with the Memory of the City Association, which has 30 continuous years in the field of serving civil, community and cultural work.

Approximately 31 people attended this expanded session.

Second day
28 February, 2023:

Visit the Hun Meteorological Station.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth days:
From 01 to 04 March 2023:

Field studies within the Black Harouge region and Wadi Tagent.

Awareness sessions for desert experts in the region about activating the prevention of distortion of rock art inscriptions of prehistoric people in the region, and maintaining the cleanliness of the region as much as possible, as well as environmental and animal diversity. Simplified lectures and visual presentations have been implemented with a projector.

A study of the effect of climatic changes on some rock art paintings of prehistoric man in the Tagant Valley.

21 people attended this mobile workshop.

Recommendations:
Thakirat Almadena The Memory of the City Association, is a long-standing and powerful civil society institution in Hun, specialized in literature, arts, history and the arts. It actively contributed to the preservation of two very important historical and archaeological buildings. The association has maintained one of these buildings in an optimal manner. The association looks forward to making the best use of these two buildings.During 30 years of continuous work, this association has established a huge library of the association’s publications, in addition to other sources. The community impact is strong and influential for this association.I recommended deepening the partnership with this association and providing it with assistance.

All photos credit: Talal Bariun.