What we do
This interdisciplinary project, an effort of archaeologists, anthropologists, and teachers, explores histories and heritage of the Middle East and its people in today’s Finland.
History of the project
From the storages
Finland has a long research tradition focused on the ancient Middle East, the birth region of agriculture and writing. As a result of interest, since the late nineteenth century, numerous archaeological objects over decades found their way into Finnish museum collections. A subsequent lack of interest by researchers and expertise in museums meant that these objects were hidden-away in their storages and in most cases have not been exhibited. In 2018, archaeologist Rick Bonnie (University of Helsinki) discovered in the storages of the Finnish Heritage Agency dozens of Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets, cylinder fragments, and prisms, ranging between 2000 to 500 BC.
Research project
This interdisciplinary project, an effort of archaeologists, anthropologists, and teachers, explores histories and heritage of the Middle East and its people in today’s Finland.
The project opens up and discusses the complex trajectories of Middle Eastern objects that often have gone undocumented, entangled in notions of western colonialism. We develop and implement critical, hands-on pedagogical resources from stored-away Middle Eastern objects in Finnish museum collections through 3D digitisation and printing.
We explore biographies and dive into subjectivities, listening to the stories of those who have roots in the Middle East and live in Finland today. We look into how they perceive their material heritage. We develop pop-up museums within the heart of communities across Finland, pop ups that gather people around science and art, pop ups that weave links between people from here and there, around stories of the past, of the present and of possible futures.
Funders and partners
The project is funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation and carried out within the Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires at the University of Helsinki. It partners with the National Museum of Finland and the Finnish Heritage Agency, as well as other museum institutions.
Project members
Rick Bonnie
Project leader
Rick coordinates the project and is responsible for preparing a catalogue of Middle Eastern objects in Finland and the pop-up museums. He works since 2014 at the University of Helsinki and his specialisation is in the archaeology and heritage of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East with a strong interest in heritage studies, community engagement, and open science. His other focus has been on ancient water studies and Jewish religious rituals, and has done research, among others, in Israel and Jordan.
Sanna Saari
Postdoctoral researcher
Sanna is responsible for creating education toolkits for high schools. She recently obtained a doctoral degree in biblical studies from the University of Helsinki and is an expert on Ancient Middle Eastern visual art. Sanna has taught in both comprehensive and high schools in Finland and has strong expertise in education training and teaching.
Annukka Debenjak-Ijäs
Project researcher
Annukka is responsible for the 3D digitization, preservation, and printing. Trained in archaeology, Annukka has gained extensive experience in photogrammetry and 3D scanning technology during her studies and later project at the University of Turku working with different archaeological museum collections.
Caroline Wallis
Postdoctoral researcher
Caroline is directing the public sociology video project “Living (t)here” and producing the Baytuna Pop-up exhibition. She holds a Ph.D in social anthropology and an MA in visual anthropology. Her research has focused on nationalism as a political philosophy and on the construction of collective identifications within such settings. She has also conducted research in historical anthropology, focusing on the political organization of ancient Mesopotamian Empires, their religious landscapes, and discourses on social justice. As a visual anthropologist, she gained strong experience in her work for the French filmmaker Yann Arthus Bertrand (‘A Thirsty World’, ‘Planet Ocean’). She is a member of the CoE Ancient Near Eastern Empires (CoE ANEE) and is affiliated with the Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ) at the University of Helsinki.
Yasmin Ibrahim
Project researcher
Yasmin Ibrahim is responsible for the Making Home Abroad pop-up museums in 2022. Her work with Amos Rex museum and Feminist Culture House has focused on different underrepresented and SWANA artists, and exhibitions in Finland. She is an expert in anti-racist and gender inclusive trainings within the arts sector. She graduated with a Masters degree in gender studies from the University of Turku in 2019 and her research focused on the affective experience of seeking asylum on Arabic women in Finland.
Rose-Marie Kivijärvi
Freelance producer
Rose-Marie is the Making Home Abroad documentary’s freelance producer. Her responsibilities include technical support (camera, sound, lighting), arranging interviews, and interpreting when required. Her professional background is in documentary film and education. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Visual Anthropology from Goldsmiths College in London in 2010 and her films have been shown in various festivals and tv channels.
