Kamal Shahadah
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| Kamal Shahadah | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1919 AD Kafrouma - Maarat al-Numan district, Idlib governorate |
| 1999 AD1999 AD | |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Syria |
| 💼 Occupation | Archaeologist |
| Title | Head of the Department of Antiquities of Maarat al-Numan and curator of its museum |
| Opponent(s) | 1983 AD - 1999 AD (died) |
| 🏅 Awards | Syrian Order of Merit, second degree |
Kamal Abdel Aziz Shehadeh (1919 - 1999 AD): Syrian writer, researcher , and founder of the Maarat al-Numan Museum.
Kamal is an archeologist born in 1919 in the village of Kafrouma in the Syrian Idlib governorate. He began his work in the field of archeology at the end of the French occupation of Syria in the Department of Antiquities of Aleppo Governorate, then was transferred to Damascus and then to Hama. Kamal continued until becoming the head of the Department of Antiquities of Maarrat al-Numan and its museum curator in 1983 AD. The decision to establish it was issued after great efforts to persuade the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums to develop this department and establish the museum.
Kamal spent fifty-three years in the service of Syrian antiquities. His activity in archaeology extended to the governorates of Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and Idlib, so he made strenuous efforts to protect and preserve them.
He participated in several Arab and foreign archaeological excavations and accompanied several foreign scholars and researchers[1]. He was fluent in French, both in writing and in conversation, with a little English (French at the time was the language of interaction with the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums). He was a member of the Institute of Scientific Heritage at the University of Aleppo and a member of the Al-Adiyat Association.
Professor Kamal Shehadeh was interested in documenting and classifying the hills and existing archaeological buildings in Hama, Homs, Idlib, and Aleppo and dispatched several missions outside the country to benefit the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, and represented Syria in more than one conference.[2]
Works in Hama Governorate[edit]
He spent his first years of service in the Department of Antiquities of Aleppo at the end of the French occupation of Syria. Then he was transferred to Damascus and then to Hama, where he opened an office for the care of antiquities in the Orient Cinema building in Hama.
He began restoring the palace of Asaad Pasha Al-Azm in Hama between 1961-1964 AD. He also conducted comprehensive studies of all the monuments existing in the governorate with its hills, such as:
Al-Asheq Canal, the watermills built on the Orontes River, the shrines, the archaeological hills, the study of the Great Mosque, and the Red Flying Palace were this study was used during the reconstruction of the Great Mosque and its return to its former era. He also worked on restoring the columns of the long street in the ancient city of Apamea. He supervised the excavations and restoration of the Monastery of the Arches, known as the Palace of Ibn Wardan, and prepared a special booklet.[3]
Establishment of the Department of Antiquities and Museum of Maarat al-Numan[edit]
Professor Kamal Shehadeh had a crucial role in establishing the Department of Antiquities of Maarat al-Numan in the Idlib Governorate. He made great efforts to convince the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums to develop this department and to establish archaeological museums that can be found in the area of Maarat.
A decree was issued in 1983 to establish the department of antiquities, the first one in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib governorate and the second one is in Maarat al-Numan Museum in Khan Murad Pasha archaeological site. He worked on restoring Khan Murad Pasha and turning it into a museum where he displayed the masterpieces of mosaic paintings and archaeological finds discovered in and around Maarat.
He also conducted a complete survey of archology in the region, including hills and forgotten cities. His writings are an essential source for documenting the landmarks of those buildings, most of whose features have been lost, and his tireless work at the archaeological site of Bara.
Mausoleum of Caliph Omar bin Abdul Aziz[edit]
The researcher Kamal Shehadeh conducted a study to locate Caliph ⠀⠀Omar bin Abdul Aziz⠀⠀'s tombOmar bin Abdul Aziz's tomb accurately. Through this study, he established the tomb's exact location in the village of Deir Sharqi (located east of the city of Maarat al-Numan) and then found the grave of Caliph Omar bin Abdul Aziz. After determining the site, he obtained approval and a budget from the Ministry of Antiquities and Museums to restore the mausoleum and build a dome over it until it was in perfect condition and its splendor returned to it.[4]
Contributions to Archeology[edit]
Mr. Kamal Shehadeh was a field manager, as his office as head of the Department of Antiquities of Maarat was among the antiquities and not in the air-conditioned rooms. He followed up to remove violations and infringements on the antiquities, and he played a prominent role in protecting the Maarrat al-Numan castle.
He is recorded as a researcher who learned from the School of Life and gained real field experiences as he was an archaeological observer.
Kamal is highly sympathetic to antiquities and never tires of work. When he was head of the Department of Antiquities in Maarrat, he worked as a staff of seven as he was the museum's director, writer, accountant, and curator.
He is the first to be published in the Archaeological Annals magazine, issued by the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums (noting that this journal is refereed and is only published for skilled researchers).
Participation in archaeological excavations[edit]
He participated in several Arab and foreign archaeological excavations and accompanied several foreign scientists and researchers, such as:
1. Georges Chalenko and Jean Balteh for eight years in the decimated cities of northern Syria (the Forgotten Cities).
2. Pierre Canevina for six years with the Belgian mission in Horta and Apamea (in Hama Governorate) and completed two hundred of its columns.
3. Documenting the archaeological sites in Homs, Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo, accompanied by Dr. Mark from France.
4. He accompanied the Italian mission, headed by Mr. Balti, in excavating the antiquities of the Kingdom of Ebla and discovering the pottery figure that records the history of this kingdom.
5. He also accompanied the Swiss mission headed by Rove Stock in the excavations (Tel Al-Hajen Arouda) in the Euphrates basin.[5]
Works[edit]
Kamal has authored many articles and research papers, including:
1. A comprehensive and detailed study of all the waterwheels of the city of Hama.
2. A study of the watermills on the Orontes River.
3. Study and restoration work of Shayzar Castle.
4. Study and restoration of Deir al-Qawas, known as Ibn Wardan Palace.
5. History of the Hama Manuscript.
6. The Red Flying Palace or the Kilani Hall.
7. Al-Maarat Museum in Khan Al-Muradiyat.
8. Archaeological buildings in Idlib governorate.
9. Restoration of the tomb of Caliph Omar bin Abdul Aziz in the village of Deir Sharqi.
10. A detailed study of the Al-Asheq Canal: from Salamiyah to the Kingdom of Apamea and its second branch from the Al-Qubba Spring in the Masyaf District, where they meet at Shayzar Castle.
11. His last book was entitled: The Rise of Urban Civilization in Northern Syria.
Also, numerous archaeological and historical researches were published in the Syrian Archaeological Annals magazine.
Awards[edit]
Researcher Kamal Shehadeh reserved the Syrian Order of Merit, second degree, according to Legislative Decree No. 86 of February 10, 1985, in honor of his efforts in serving antiquities.
Death[edit]
In 1999, the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums mourned the archaeological researcher, Mr. Kamal Shehadeh, after a terminal illness in his eighties while he was still in office, leaving generations his efforts through important works and through the Maarat al-Numan Museum, where he founded.
Also see[edit]
- Maarat al-Numan Museum
- Mausoleum of Caliph Omar bin Abdul Aziz
References[edit]
- ↑ Parrot, André (1967). "Anton Moortgat, Tell Chuera in Nordost-Syrien". Syria. Archéologie, Art et histoire. 44 (3): 409–410.
- ↑ "404 - الصفحة غير موجودة". fedaa.alwehda.gov.sy. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ↑ ""كامل شحادة"... نصف قرن في خدمة الآثار". www.esyria.sy (in العربية). Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ↑ "ضريح الخليفة "عمر بن عبد العزيز".... تجديد وترميم". www.esyria.sy (in العربية). Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ↑ Sartre, Maurice (2005). The Middle East Under Rome. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01683-5. Search this book on
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