Amal Al Kassem
- Archaeology
Areas of Expertise:
Lithic industries of the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula; Reconstruction of behaviour, mobility, and land use of hunter-gatherer groups; Archaeological Fieldwork and Remote Sensing Imagery, incl. Academic and Rescue Excavations
Membership:
since
2026
Contact
University of Cologne, Germany
Department of Prehistory and Early History
Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology
Bernhard-Feilchenfeld-Straße 11
50969 Cologne
Germany
+49 221 470 6529
aalkass3(at)uni-koeln.de
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About me
I am a Syrian-German archaeologist and European Archaeological Heritage Prize (2024) laureate with a PhD from the University of Cologne. Currently, I lead two Gerda Henkel Foundation-funded projects at the University of Cologne, assessing conflict-induced damage to hundreds of Syrian archaeological sites using satellite imagery and ground verification. My research focuses on protecting Syrian cultural heritage in conflict zones, discovering Palaeolithic sites in southern Syria, conducting rescue and academic excavations, and integrating multidisciplinary GIS analysis with socio-historical contexts. I like to consider myself a flint knapper, as I specialise in the lithic industries of the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula.
As an AGYA member, I leverage my expertise and regional networks with institutions like the Syrian Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums to expand AGYA’s initiatives in Syria.
AGYA empowers early-career scholars and offers a platform to strengthen their capacity for high-impact research and knowledge exchange.
Academic career
| Since 2026 | Researcher at Institute of prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne, Germany |
| 2025 | Director of Excavation in Büro für Archäologie Neupert, Kozik & Simm M Munich, Germany |
| 2024 | Honorary mention (European Archaeological Heritage 2024) |
| 2023 - 2024 | Researcher at Institute of prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne, Germany |
| 2022 - 2023 | Scientific Director of ARCO Research Centre, Abu Dhabi - UAE |
| 2016 - 2021 | PhD degree, Institute of prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne, Germany |
| 2012 - 2015 | Archaeologist in the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums, Damascus, Syria |
| 2010 - 2012 | MA degree, Department of Archaeology, Damascus University, Syria |
- Working Groups
- Common Heritage and Common Challenges
On a personal note
Must read in my discipline:
The impacts of lateral obliqueness and edge angle on Levallois point morphology by Amal Al Kassem, Huw S. Groucutt, Jürgen Richter and Michel Brenet