Involving the Local Community in the Protection of the Heritage and Archaeology of Cyrene

Abstract

This article is an Arabic translation of an English article by Dr. Ahmad Issa Faraj AbdulKareim (Associate Professor in the department of Archaeology/Omar Al-Mukhtar University). The article was published in 2013 in the Journal of Libyan Studies/ London, volume 44, pages 103-106. This article presents an important project that was implemented in the city of Shahaat (ancient Cyrene), aiming to involve the local community in protecting the archaeological heritage. In this article, the author discusses the important role that local communities can play in protecting archaeological sites and cultural heritage in general, considering the local community as an essential partner in this matter, and this can only be achieved if the local community knows and appreciates the great and important value of this cultural heritage.The writer believes that educating and informing the community - and future generations in particular - is one of the very important means to ensure effective protection of the archaeological heritage - not only in Cyrene, but throughout the country.  Also according to the writer's initiative, that to educate these generations, it is necessary -  - to start and continue in several steps, including delivering a series of lectures in schools, organizing field visits to archaeological sites, and inserting community awareness into the school curriculum.