The European Architectural History Network (EAHN), the Heritage Conservation Research Program (HCRP) and Research Center of the Faculty of Engineering at Koya University inviting all academics and researchers to submit their original papers and participate in the International EAHN Thematic Conference ‘Heritage in Danger’
While the world mourned the destruction of the widely known Iraqi archaeological and heritage sites of Nimrud, Hatra, Sinjar and the old town of Mosul caused by the ISIS invasion in 2014-2017, other Iraqi archaeological and heritage sites in much safer zones were and still are underestimated and exposed to silent death via ongoing neglect and unchecked deterioration with a very limited capacity to safeguard them like in the case of Koya’s old town which reached its zenith during the Ottoman reign.

Many other cases around the world which have faced threats like armed conflicts and wars, natural disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization and unchecked tourist development were inscribed in the UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger. Such is the case of the city of Bam in Iran that was struck by a major earthquake in 2004, and the case of the historic town of Zabid in Yemen where the heritage has seriously deteriorated and more than 40% of its buildings were replaced by new concrete ones (Yemen’s current civil war has worsened this situation even more). These examples reflect the wide range of threats that put heritage in danger and require special attention and corrective action.

This two-day conference aims to explore various aspects of the threats that lead to heritage loss, along with the questions about how to save and protect cultural heritage through discussing and raising international awareness of the critical risks confronting cultural heritage and the devastating heritage loss around the world.

The conference welcomes papers that address similar or other aspects of threats behind heritage loss all over the world and how to safeguard the cultural heritage and mitigate the threats.

Abstracts should be submitted online via conference website only no later than August 15, 2022; we will not accept abstracts that are sent via email. For further information please send your inquiries to the following address: eahn.hd2023@koyauniversity.org

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Koya University (KOU) is located in the city of Koya (Koy Sanjaq) which is 1.0 hr drive to the East of the Kurdistan Region capital Erbil (Arbil, Hewlér) in Kurdistan Region of F.R. Iraq. It is on the foothills of beautiful high mountain. Its campus has been carefully laid out to embrace the beautiful mountainous nature. . There are 4 Faculties and 2 Schools in KOU; Faculty of Engineering (FENG), Faculty of Science and Health (FSCH), Faculty of Education (FEDU), Faculty of Humanities and Social Silences (FHSS), Shcool of Physical Education (SPHE) and School of Medicine (SMED). Also, there are two research centers; Genome Center and Malai Gawra Center. Moreover, at KOU there is an English Language Center (BELC) at KOU has been opened with the sponsorship of IREX and American embassy in Baghdad as well as with the support of Spring International Language Center of The University of Arkansas. KOU has two Scientific Journals; ARO-The Scientific Journal of Koya University, which is indexed by Clarivate Analytics (ESCI), and Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS). KOU is a proactive member of Erasmus/ Marhaba Project and Erasmus+. KOU signed many Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with many International Universities, e.g., The University of Arkansas (June 2015). The Lulea University in Sweden (April 2014), The University of Nottingham in the UK, The University of Buckingham in the UK (Oct 2008), Belkin University in Turkey (Sep 2009) The University of Greenwich in the UK, Cihan University-Erbil (2021) and Tishk International University (2021).