Dr Mary Shepperson FSA
As a member of the BISI council I can contribute a wealth of recent experience of working in Iraq, both on archaeological projects and 20th century heritage. Since 2012 I’ve worked as a senior excavator and researcher on a range of projects, both in the Kurdish Region and in Southern Iraq. These include three years as the site archaeologist for the Citadel of Erbil, five seasons at Gurga Chiya near Halabja, four seasons excavating at Tell Khaiber near Ur and four at Charax Spasinou in Basra province. Most recently I’ve been heading up excavations for the nascent Sebittu Project on the Erbil Plain and directing a heritage/ethnographic project to document the reed architecture tradition of the Iraqi Marshes. As well as work in Iraq, I have extensive field experience across the Middle East and North Africa, gained over two decades of archaeological work.
I have broad research interests and have authored a diverse body of published works on the archaeology and heritage of Iraq, as well as writing an archaeology blog for The Guardian news paper. I have a particular specialism in the architecture and urbanism of Bronze Age Mesopotamia, but have published research on sites ranging from the Chalcolithic to the Islamic periods. My area of interest extends into the 20th and 21st centuries, including publications on the heritage of the Iran-Iraq war and work in preparation on modern conflict remains on the Erbil Plain (as part of EPAS) and on Marsh Arab reed architecture.
I hold a permanent post as lecturer in architectural and urban heritage at the University of Liverpool, which has opened new opportunities for funding and collaboration with Iraqi academics and institutions; I am currently finalising an MoU between Liverpool and Thi Qar University with the intention of facilitating collaborative projects.
As a (relatively) young member of the council, with active Iraqi fieldwork and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level, I consider that I can contribute to growing BISI and improving its engagement and reach. BISI used to have strong engagement with archaeology and heritage students and it would be good to see this restored. I think I can contribute novel ideas aimed at re-engaging students and reaching new audiences generally. I also consider it important that major universities outside London/Oxford/Cambridge are represented on the council. Northern and Scottish universities have active research on and in Iraq and BISI would benefit from better ties with these institutions.
It would be an honour to continue to serve on the council and further the vital work of BISI.