Palmyra (Syrien). Blick von Nordwesten auf das Stadtgebiet, 2011 © DAI // Claudia Bührig
Damascus Branch
About us
The Damascus Branch was founded in 1980 as a local research unit of the DAI's Orient Department in Syria and has also maintained a research unit in Amman, Jordan, since 2017.
The range of research carried out by the Damascus Branch and the Research Unit of the DAI in Amman includes archaeological surveys, geophysical prospections and excavations. The branch also focusses on building history topics such as construction techniques, building economics and building knowledge. Cultural-political tasks, such as raising awareness and communicating cultural heritage issues as well as documenting and preserving it, are also core activities of the Damascus Branch and allow access for a broad national and international interest group. A primary aim is not only to conduct research within the framework of modern national borders, but also to utilise the research data obtained in Syria and Jordan in order to highlight cultural connections within a large region.
News
Work of the Damascus Branch
Ausgrabungen in Gadara, Jordanien © DAI, Außenstelle Damaskus // Luna Watkins
Projects
Die fassade der Madafeh steht wieder. Im Jahr 2021 führte das DAI im Rahmen der KulturGutretter-Initiative ein Schulungsprogramm zur Bauwerkserhaltung in Umm Qays, Jordanien, durch. © DAI, Außenstelle Damaskus // Claudia Bührig
Cultural Preservation
Filmaufnahmen in Berlin im Garten der Außenstelle Damaskus © DAI, Außenstelle Damaskus // Luna Watkins
Outreach
Infrastructure of the Damascus Branch
Das Resafa Archiv. © DAI // Alexander Ahrens
Archives
Bibliothek der Außenstelle Damaskus © DAI // Alexander Ahrens
Library
Publikationen der AS Damaskus © DAI // Claudia Bührig
Editorial Office
The Damascus Branch
History
In 1980, the German Archaeological Institute opened the "Damascus Station" in a rented flat at Sharia Ahmad Shauki 54 in the Malki district. As the founding director, Michael Meinecke initiated various research projects on classical antiquity and the Islamic periods in Raqqa and promoted scientific exchange between national and international guests from the very beginning.
Themes and visions
The Damascus Branch has been conducting research of the Levant (also known as Bilad ash-Sham) since 1980. Since 2017, the branch has also a research unit affiliated in Amman, which is run in cooperation with the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in the Holy Land (GPIA).
How are we organised?
The Damascus Branch is directed scientifically and administratively by a director. A research assistant, a graduate assistant and an administrative assistant at the institute in Damascus support the director in the areas of services, library, editorial office, IT and in the realisation of research projects and cultural preservation/cultural mediation projects. The latter are carried out with the support of specialised colleagues.