Curriculum Vitae

Higher Education

• 1992-1995 B.A. in Archaeology- Haifa University. Cum laude.
• 1995-1999 M.A. Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Medieval studies.
• 2003-2008, Ph.D. In Islamic Archaeology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Institute of Asian and African Studies. Title of Ph.D. Thesis: The Muslim concept of defence in Greater Syria in the late 12th and 13th centuries in the light of the historical, archaeological and architectural analysis of Ayyubid and early Mamluk fortifications. Supervisors: Prof. Reuven Amitai and Prof. Ronnie Ellenblum.
• 2006 Fall term at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Participated in a seminar and course on Islamic art and architecture, given by Prof. Rabbat (chair of the department of Islamic art and architecture). Introduced by Prof. Rabbat to the Harvard Fine Arts Library and Archives where I carried out my research.
• 2008-2010 Post-Doctorate the Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The program was funded by the Galilee Project, affiliated to both the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The University of York (England). Research title: Climate and political climate, environmental calamities in the medieval Levant 11th-14th centuries (Based on primary contemporary Arabic sources).
• 2009 Summer term, research carried out at SOAS library (School of Oriental and African Studies, London)

Academic appointments

• 1995-1997 Assistant researcher at The Vadum Jacob Crusader fortress excavations The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
• 1999, Assistant researcher to the curator of Islamic art and archaeology at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem
• 2004-2006 Assistant researcher to Professor Reuven Amitai at the Institute of Asian and African studies, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 2006-2007 Lecturer at the Rothberg International School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Research grants and awards

• 2001, Dean Scholarship for Distinction, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 2004-2006, PhD research was partially financed by a grant from the Israel Science Foundation
• 2007, Publication grant, Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 2008, Post Doctorate grant provided by Prof. Enzel from the Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The grant funded the first stage of the research.
• 2008-2010, two year post doctorate grant. Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The funding was provided by Dr. Derek Sturdy, The U.K. director of the Galilee Project.
• 2010, Institute de Physique du Globe, Paris (6000 Ero). The grant was given to sponsor research on the impact of medieval earthquakes on military architecture in the Levant.
• 2013-2014 Helmholtz Virtual Institutes, The GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences who operates the Virtual Institutes "Dead Sea Research Venue – DESERVE" granted to Prof. Agnon, Institute of Earth and Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Participation in Scholarly Conferences

• 2011, May - The School of Archaeology at the University of Trieste, Italy. Title of lecture: Muslim and Crusader approaches to fortress construction in the Levant
• 2011, April - International Mamluk Conference held at Haifa University organized by Prof. Levanoni. Egypt and Syria under Mamluk Rule: Political, Social and Cultural Aspects. Title of lecture: Fighting drought and defending grain reserves
• 2010, December, Joint conference of the Department of Archaeology at The Hebrew University and the Israel Antiquity Authority. Title of lecture: The Impact of the 12th and 13th century earthquakes in the Levant on fortress construction.
• 2010, June - Geological Survey of Israel, Jerusalem, Israel. Title of lecture: Droughts and famines in the medieval Levant 12th-15th centuries.
• 2009, February - Dead Sea Workshop, Safad, Israel. Title of lecture: 1170, The earthquake that forced peace between the Crusader principalities and Nur al-Din the sultan of Syria
• 2008, August- The Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East. Avignon, France. Title of lecture: The role of Crusader fortresses under Mamluk rule
• 2008, June- Holy War: Past and Present, The Crusader Phenomenon and its relevance Today. Title of lecture: Ayyubid and Mamluk fortifications in the late 12th and early 13th century.
• 2006- The Mamluk Sultanate: Political, Military, Social and Cultural Aspects. Haifa and Jerusalem, Israel. Title of lecture: From the periphery to the center: Spatial distribution of Mamluk fortresses in the thirteenth century
• 2006- Castles and Towns of the Crusader Period in the Eastern Mediterranean. Braubach, Germany. Title of lecture: Mighty Towers and Feeble Walls: Ayyubid & Mamluk Fortifications in the late 12th and early 13th century
• 2005- The 4th National conference of Asian Studies in Israel. Jerusalem, Israel. Title of lecture: Mongol siege warfare on the banks of the Euphrates
• 2004- The Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East. Istanbul, Turkey. Title of lecture: Hard evidence from the Mamluk siege of Arsuf (1265) and Acre (1291)
• 2002- International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds, U.K. Title of lecture: A thousand arrows from the Crusader fortress at Vadum Iacob.
   

Excavations and archaeological research
Field Work

• 2012, excavation at Nebi Samuel Hellenistic and Early Roman Complex (IAA)
• 2011, February-March. Head of an excavation of a medieval (Crusader, Ayyubid Mamluk and Ottoman) domestic complex in the Jewish Quarter, Jerusalem (IAA).
• 2009-2010, field supervisor at the excavation of Beth Saida, Southern Golan. Excavation director Prof. Rami Arav
• 2006, excavation in Chifeng, North East China. Directed by The Chifeng International Collaborative Archaeological Research project (Universities of Jilin, China; University of Pittsburgh, USA and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel).
• 2005, Survey of Ayyubid and Mamluk fortresses in Jordan and South- East Turkey
• 2002-2003, field supervisor at Hippos–Sussita excavations, Northern Israel. Excavation director: Prof. A. Segal, Zinman Institute of Archaeology, Haifa University.
• 1992-2007, field supervisor and research coordinator, yearly summer excavations at the Crusader fortress at Vadum Jacob (1178/79). Excavation director: Prof. Ellenblum, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
• 1997, field supervisor Shoham excavations, IAA. Excavation director Dr. Uzi Dahari. Participant in the research and final publication of the archaeological report.
• 1995, field supervisor at the excavations of Tiberias (Mount Berenike). Excavation director: Prof. Y. Hirshfeld, Archaeological Institute, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
• 1994, field Supervisor at the excavations of Shiqmona. Excavation director: Prof. Y. Hirshfeld, Archaeological Institute, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
• 1994, surveyor, Manasseh Hill Country Survey. Survey director: Prof. A. Zertal Department of Archaeology Haifa University.
   

Archaeological Research

• 2010 - research of the metal finds from the Monastery of St. Mary of Carmel (Israel Antiquities Authority)
• 2008-2009 - study of metal artifacts from the Ottoman Kishle at Jaffa. Excavations director: Dr. Yoav Arbel (IAA).
• 2008 - study of the Crusader and Ottoman metal artifacts excavated in the compound of the French Hospital of Saint Louis enclosure; The southern corner of the Jaffa's fortifications. Excavation director: Mr. Amit Reem (IAA).
• 2004-2005, research of the metal artifacts from the Jaffa excavations. Excavation director: Dr. Martin Peilstöcker (IAA).
• 2001-2002, research and publication of the jewelry and metal artifacts from the excavation of Caesarea, Department of Archaeology, Haifa University.
• 2003, research and publication of the metal artifacts and the evidence from the Mamluk siege of Arsuf (1265). Apollonia-Arsuf excavations, Tel Aviv University. Excavation director: Prof. Israel Roll and Dr. Oren Tal.
• 2000, research and publication of the metal artifacts from the Roman Theater at Shuni. Archaeological excavations, Israel National Fund.