Jean Chaccour – 2022-2023 – AUB Scholar

I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Interior Architecture at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture (LU). I am currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Archaeology at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences (LU). The minor in Marine Sciences and Culture launched by HFF and AUB provides a new learning experience and a great opportunity for me to approach subjects infrequently taught in my main archaeological studies, which focus on land surveying and excavation, with a different methodology. I am interested in the early development of human societies where in most cases the found settlements are connected to seas, rivers, lakes, etc. This ancient lifestyle is better understood now through maritime archaeology, which offers a more comprehensive perspective in analyzing the relationship between people and bodies of water. I would also like to focus on the digital techniques of surveying provided by the program, including echo sounding and photogrammetry that help in the documentation, display, and dissemination of knowledge, particularly when dealing with underwater contexts rarely accessible to the public. These methods will draw attention to our submerged cultural heritage and will bring the hard work of diving archaeologists to the surface, via virtual reality or within the physical boundaries of a museum.

2023 Update

I have successfully completed the minor in Marine Sciences and Culture, which provided me with a very enriching experience and equipped me with invaluable knowledge and skills. The first semester coincided with my participation in the Lebanese-Italian Archaeological Project in the Region of Tyre in September 2022. The program, particularly MSCU 201, offered a comprehensive background in maritime landscape and geomorphology to better understand the environment we worked in, and the type of cultural material found on site.

In MSCU 202, we briefly explored the application of photogrammetry in the field of archaeology, something I find very important for documenting, monitoring, and displaying archaeological material. Following the Minor, I had the opportunity to further develop my photogrammetry skills on a much larger scale in two different archaeology projects in Lebanon.

The final assignment for MSCU 203 is titled “Archaeological Project for a Maritime Landscape in Lebanon”. It is a comprehensive report that details the planning and execution of several practices conducted during the field school/summer session, including a terrestrial coastal survey and seabed mapping using remote sensing techniques.