AWAS

Where to?

Search
AWAS
Menu

Book now

  • Show me everything
  • History and Heritage
  • Events
  • Concerts
  • Wellness
  • Arts and Culture
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Adventure
  • Culinary Experiences

Dates

Search Click Here

{{title}}

{{description}}

About AWAS

The AlUla World Archaeology Summit (AWAS) is a global platform for leaders from academia, government, non-government organisations, industry and youth to foster an environment of cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange and create a diverse, inclusive and enriching dialogue that furthers our understanding of human history and culture. It was established by the Royal Commission for AlUla in 2023 and distinct from other global archaeology conferences, AWAS focuses on interdisciplinarity to include areas as diverse as anthropology, media, education, policy, government and more. The vision is to facilitate dialogue on archaeology and cultural heritage issues that is both academic and more accessible to a wider audience, and to provide a global platform for the latest work and thinking. AWAS alternates each year between a Summit and a more academically focused Symposium.

Read More

AlUla World Archaeology Symposium 2024

AWAS 2024 provides a progressive and leading platform for dialogue and collaboration amongst leading global experts, where they discuss thematic areas of shared interest and relevance to archaeology and cultural heritage internationally. This year’s focus on mobile communities is timely and enduring. From prehistory onwards, people have moved to access opportunities, to improve living conditions, to explore, but also in response to environmental constraints, natural disaster, conflict, and socio-political instability. In a world where moving has become easier for many but not for all, a world that has experienced the implications of a sudden lack of mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic, AWAS 2024 hopes to challenge traditional assumptions on past and present mobility.

Maraya

Venue: Maraya

Maraya is an architectural wonder of the world located in the stunning desert canyons of the Ashar Valley in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Its mirror-clad exterior appears as a mirage in the desert offering reflections of the surrounding desert and mountains. The multi-purpose entertainment and meetings venue has hosted everything from opera to a GCC Summit to Nobel Laureates.

Speakers and Programme

Day 1 - October 30

Day 1 of AWAS 2024 begins with a keynote presentation by Dr Willeke Wendrich on Communities on the Move: Long-Lasting Tracks and New Challenges. This is followed by a presentation and Q&A on Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to the Archaeology of Mobile Communities: Latest Developments and Challenges. The morning then concludes with moderated panels on three aspects of Complex Placemaking and Liminal Spaces. The afternoon session features three moderated panels on The Importance of Tangible Evidence and Patterns, followed by case studies and discussion on Ephemeral and Monumental: The Two Opposite Dimensions of Mobile Communities.

Day 2 - October 31

Day 2 of AWAS 2024 begins with a plenary presentation and discussion of Conservation, Tourism Activation, Narrative and Local Communities: Managing a Mobile Balance. The morning will conclude with two hours of workshops on Moving Cultures and Endangered Archaeology: Cutting-Edge Solutions to Critical Challenges. The afternoon is focused on Symposium outcomes. Breakout groups will discuss an outcome for the Symposium, based on the discussions of this and the prior day. The final session is an introduction to the archaeology of AlUla, including a site visit in early evening.

Click here for more details

Frequently asked questions

Your guide to the most common questions about the symposium.

Click here

Past Events

AlUla World Archaeology Summit 2023

At AWAS 2023, more than 300 experts from around the globe debated and explored issus around the themes of Identity, Resilience, Ruinscapes and Accessibility. In partnership with UNESCO, the World Bank, Saudi ICOMOS and others, AWAS 2023 offered an open dialogue with action-orientated conversation, while also showcasing AlUla and the Kingdom as the new gathering place for the archaeological and cultural heritage community.

2023 Summit Highlights

Discover AlUla

Enjoy your AWAS 2024 downtime exploring one of the world's archaeological gems.
Living Museum: Where the world came to meet, and where we will meet again.
Experience AlUla: A rising global destination for cultural and natural heritage.

Living Museum

Living Museum

Embark on a journey of legacy and continuity in AlUla’s Living Museum

Explore now
Experience AlUla

Experience AlUla

Layer upon layer of human history and a wealth of natural wonders are waiting to be explored, from dramatic rock formations and sand-swept dunes to archaeological ruins that trace the lives of the ancient cultures who built cities here.

Explore now