17 March 2025
Israel has done its utmost to destroy the physical evidence of Palestine life and culture in Gaza, even as it monopolises archaeology in the Occupied West Bank while barring Palestinian researchers from legitimate investigation of their own heritage. Yet, as Ayman Hassouna explains in this interview for FOBZU, the teaching and practice of archaeology in Gaza is more important than ever for the survival of the nation and indeed for the wider world.
Our Universities Live On: An Interview with Dr. Ayman Hassouna, Professor in Ancient Archaeology at the Islamic University of Gaza
Mar 6, 2025 | Latest News
As faculty at Gaza’s universities work to sustain education in the face of unprecedented challenges, in this series, we hear directly from academics and students on the frontlines of the scholasticide. Our Universities Live On highlights the resilience, leadership, and vision of university leaders, students, and faculty.
This month, we are sharing an interview with Dr. Ayman Hassouna, an archaeologist and university lecturer at the Islamic University of Gaza, who recently visited London to participate in the Archiving Gaza in the Present conference, a collaboration between the Arab British Centre and the Centre for Palestine Studies at SOAS. Now based in Dubai after evacuating Gaza in March last year, Dr. Hassouna continues to teach students at the Islamic University of Gaza online while working for the restoration of its archaeological sites in Gaza.
Our work in Gaza has always been about more than just preserving the past; it’s about ensuring that future generations can learn from and take pride in their heritage. This is why we must continue teaching, training, and forging international partnerships. – Dr. Ayman Hassouna, Professor in Ancient Archaeology at the Islamic University of Gaza.
Dr. Ayman Hassouna: A Short Biography
Dr. Ayman Hassouna is an assistant professor in archaeology at the Islamic University of Gaza. He has worked on numerous archaeological sites across the Gaza Strip dating from the Neolithic to the Ottoman periods, including coastal sites. As the field director of the GAZAMAP project, he has provided field training to archaeology students and coordinated surveys of key sites including Tell es-Sakan, Tell Ruqeish, and Tell Qatif.
Dr. Hassouna has dedicated his life to archaeology, serving at the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and teaching at various academic institutions. Beginning in 1995, he spent nearly a decade excavating Anthedon Port, located about two kilometers north of Gaza’s modern port, before going on to teach at the Islamic University of Gaza. However, since October 2023, much of the historic heritage he worked to uncover has been damaged or destroyed—along with the Islamic University of Gaza and his own home.
Despite the targeting of most of Gaza’s archaeological sites, Dr. Hassouna remains committed to the future, already envisioning how to rebuild Gaza’s cultural heritage. “There’s no such thing as impossible in archaeology. We have documentation for all the buildings, and we can rebuild them as they were,” he says, though he acknowledges that significant support and funding will be essential.
Like most of Gaza’s population, Dr. Hassouna was forced to flee his home. He fled Gaza City for Khan Younis and later Rafah, where he and 15 family members lived in cramped conditions before evacuating to Egypt and finally settling in the UAE. From there, he continues to teach online and plan for his return to teaching and training in Gaza.
Gaza: A Crossroads of Civilizations
Q: Dr. Hassouna, could you start by telling us about your journey as a professor of archaeology in Gaza? What makes Gaza such an important site of archaeological study?
Before 2001, there was no formal study of archaeology in Gaza. Systematic archaeological research in Gaza has been limited for decades due to settler colonialism, continued assaults and restrictions, and the prolonged blockade, with spare efforts focusing mainly on conserving existing structures. Despite references to various archeological sites in scholarship, knowledge of Gaza’s rich history remains outdated.
The Islamic University introduced the program as part of the history department, but student interest was initially low, and many young people did not see archaeology as a viable career. By 2012, however, we had expanded the program, offering theoretical courses in introductory archaeology, museum studies, and restoration, alongside practical training opportunities for students at Gaza’s universities.
Gaza’s significance lies in its strategic location. As the last point in the Levant before Africa, it has been a crossroads for civilizations for millennia. Trade caravans from the Arabian Peninsula passed through Gaza en route to Egypt and the Mediterranean. The Nabataeans controlled much of this trade, transporting incense, wine, and olive oil. The Gaza amphora (Fukhar), a distinctive jar used to export local products, has been found across the Mediterranean, evidence of Gaza’s deep integration into ancient trade networks.
Given this history, it was essential to develop Gaza’s archaeology sector through training in excavation, restoration, and conservation. Our work aimed to empower students to become stewards of their own heritage.
Training and Partnerships Before the Scholasticide
Q: Can you tell us about the training programs and partnerships you established between Gaza universities and international institutions before the October 2023 genocide?
One of our most significant projects was the restoration of St. Hilarion Monastery (Tell Umm al-Amr), the oldest monastery in the Levant, which introduced monasticism to the region. Through funding from the British Council, we collaborated with the French School of Archaeology and Première Urgence Internationale to protect this site. Our students received training in excavation techniques, conservation, and 3D documentation, and nearly 60 students from Gaza participated in this work.
We also partnered with institutions like the University of Palestine to involve architectural engineering students in conservation work. In collaboration with the Dutch Prince Claus Fund, we provided specialised training on cleaning and restoring mosaics. We needed to act swiftly to save what remained of the Byzantine mosaics and ensure the sustainability of these heritage sites, most of which are now at risk of collapse due to human intervention, ongoing destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, and natural erosion. This initiative came at a time when 50% of archaeological sites were abandoned. Our efforts extended beyond restoring large mosaics; we also worked on the fifth-century Byzantine church and the sixth-century Maqam of Ibrahim Al-Khalil, both of which are classified as heritage sites and face the threat of collapse.
Another pioneering initiative was the Gaza Maritime Archaeology Project (GAZAMAP), a collaboration between the University of Southampton, the Maritime Endangered Archaeology Project (MarEA) and students from the Islamic University of Gaza. This project surveyed Tell Ruqeish (an Iron Age site with a massive fortification wall and a coastal zone), documenting exposed features, mapping key areas, and assessing monitoring needs. The team recorded 6,059 geotagged observations, including ceramics, stone tools, and architectural remains. Beach and underwater surveys revealed quarrying marks and confirmed the site’s silted harbor. The findings expanded knowledge of the site, identified priority areas for protection, and recommended extending its boundaries. Oral histories also enriched understanding of the region’s maritime past.
Tragically, three of my most talented students involved in these projects were killed during the genocide. – Dr. Ayman Hassouna, Professor in Ancient Archaeology at the Islamic University of Gaza.
We worked alongside students who completed two phases of work, but the war prevented us from beginning the third phase. This project was particularly important because Gaza’s coastal heritage is at risk due to natural erosion and urban expansion.
Tragically, three of my most talented students involved in these projects were killed during the genocide.
The Future of Archaeology in Gaza
Q: After nearly 15 months of scholasticide and ongoing destruction, what is the situation now for teaching and training? What are your plans for the future?
Our universities are still functioning. I continue to teach online via Zoom, recording lectures and uploading them to YouTube so students can access them when the internet is available. Practical training is impossible at the moment, but we provide as much theoretical instruction as we can. We are also assisting students financially to help them afford the high cost of internet access.
Since October 2023, Gaza has witnessed an unprecedented level of destruction to its cultural heritage. We are currently working to assess the extent of the damage and explore possibilities for reconstruction and restoration. Every archaeological site in Gaza has been affected, with many severely damaged or completely destroyed. This includes the Byzantine Church in Jabalya, Hammam al-Samara at the historic districts of Old Gaza City, St. Porphyrius Orthodox Church in the Zeitoun neighborhood, Qaisariah Market (Gold Market), St. Hilarion Monastery, Al-Khidr Monastery near Deir al-Balah, and many more. One of our key initiatives is to work with local specialists and students to lead reconstruction efforts as soon as materials become available.
We are also seeking to establish new collaborations with more UK universities, as institutions in the UK have strong archaeology programs and can play a key role in rebuilding Gaza’s heritage sector. There is expertise in conservation, documentation, and digital reconstruction that could be immensely valuable for Gaza’s recovery. Our goal is to create a sustainable, long-term partnership that will allow us to train the next generation of Palestinian archaeologists to be the leaders in the field.
Despite the destruction, we have the records, the knowledge, and the determination to rebuild. In archaeology, nothing is impossible—it just takes time, resources, and commitment. Our work in Gaza has always been about more than just preserving the past; it’s about ensuring that future generations can learn from and take pride in their heritage. This is why we must continue teaching, training, and forging international partnerships.
