Heritage DNA: Resilience at the American University of Beirut Archaeological Museum

Join archaeologist, associate professor, and curator Dr. Nadine Panayot to explore approaches to safeguarding heritage through innovations in conservation and emergency preparedness at The Archaeological Museum at the American University of Beirut, which has faced challenges in a city repeatedly shaken by conflict. Learn how the museum turned fragility into resilience, from the painstaking restoration of shattered glass vessels to virtual reconstructions, where digitalization can function as cultural DNA encoding, transmitting the essence of heritage across generations. Discover how the museum demonstrates the way fragile objects can embody endurance, identity, and collective memory through conservation measures and curatorial choices, and see how it bridges past and present, reaffirming heritage as a living, evolving force rather than a relic of history, ensuring both continuity and connection across cultures and time.