We are saddened to share the news of the passing of our friend, colleague, and Durham Archaeology Honorary Research Fellow Dr Abdulameer Al-Dafar (Al Hamdani).
Abdulameer was training manager for the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa (EAMENA) Project at Durham in 2018.
We fondly recall Amir talking about being brought-up in the marshes of Southern Iraq and travelling to primary school in a boat cutting its way through the reed beds. His love for this landscape, and its heritage continued through his academic career. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Ancient Archaeology from Baghdad University in 1987, and both an MA and PhD, in 2013 and 2015 respectively, in Archaeology from the Department of Anthropology of State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has led numerous surveys and excavations in southern Iraq, broadening our understanding of the cultural landscapes of this region.
In his remarkable career he served as the Director of the Antiquities Office of Dhiqar Province in Southern Iraq, the Director of the Nasiriya Museum, the Chairman of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Iraq, and the Minister of Culture for Iraq. Throughout his career he was a champion for the Cultural Heritage of Iraq. He will be greatly missed.
Abdulameer Al Dafar Al Hamdani, with Durham EAMENA colleagues Kristen Hopper and Sayantani Neogi training employees of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Baghdad.
Abdulameer Al Dafar Al Hamdani delivering CPF-EAMENA training to employees of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Baghdad.
