PUSH/ Al
Quds University
Tour
Guide Training Session, Sabastia
August 14,
2008
Executive
Summary
Download PDF of Tour Guide
Training
Table of
Contents
1. Agenda………………………………… 2
2. Session Overview……...…………….. 3
3. Site Visit Participants List…………… 4
PUSH/ Al Quds
University
Tour Guide Training
Session Agenda
August 14, 2008
08:00 Depart Jerusalem
09:00 Arrive at Khan Lubben
10:00 Arrive in Sabastia
10:15 Registration and Welcome
10:30 Introduction to PUSH and Shared Common Heritage
Presented by Dr. Yusuf Natsheh, PUSH Project Manager
11:40 Sabastia: A Model for Understanding Shared Heritage
Presented by Dr. Marwan Abu Khalaf, PUSH Team
12:10 Understanding Sites of Shared Heritage using GIS
Modeling
Presented by Mohammad Jaradat, PUSH Team
12:45 Sabastia: On-going Conservation Projects
Presented by Osama Hamdan, PUSH Team
13:15 Sabastia Community Site Visit
Led by Osama Hamdan, PUSH Team
14:40 Lunch
15:30 Sabastia Archaeological Site Visit
Led by Osama Hamdan, PUSH Team
17:00 End of Workshop
Executive Summary:
PUSH/ Al Quds University
Tour Guide Training Session Overview
The PUSH – Al Quds University Tour Guide Training Session
set off from Jerusalem picking up groups of participants on
the way to Sabastia where the main activities were held.
The group's first stop was at Khan Lubben. At the site PUSH
Team Members began by introducing the participants and
themselves followed by a short introduction about PUSH and
a discussion about the role of caravanserai (khans) in the
economic, social and religious history of the region and
their role as meeting points on the major routes of the
region. Subsequently the group continued to Sabastia where
they were welcomed by members of the Sabastia Municipality
and joined by other participants.
With the full group now assembled, Dr. Yusuf Natsheh began
with an introduction presentation about the PUSH project,
its methodology and innovative approach to understanding
the region's shared heritage. Dr. Natsheh spoke about the
concept of shared heritage using many examples of well
known sites with elements of shared heritage. Dr. Marwan
Abu Khalef, PUSH Team Member and Archeologist, then
presented the historical background of the Sabastia site as
a model for sites with numerous historical layers and
narratives. Mohammed al-Jaradat, PUSH Team Member and
Archeologist, followed with a discussion on how maps
reflect narrative and can thus be utilized to present
issues of shared heritage to the public. Osama Hamdam, PUSH
Team Member, Architect and the Head of Excavations at
Sabastia then presented information on the on-going
conservation activities in Sabastia as well as the
political context of conservation activities in the area
including issues of sovereignty and access. Participants
had the opportunity to ask questions following each
session.
Following these presentations, Osama Hamdam led the
participants on a site visit of the excavations and
restoration works in the community center of Sabastia
including the mosque, the tomb of John the Baptist and the
Sabastia Cultural Heritage Center. This was followed by a
group lunch in a local restaurant. After the lunch
participants were taken on a site visit to the
archeological park including the main remains of the Roman
era such as the forum, basilica, columned street etc.
Throughout the site visit participants and PUSH team
members made connections to the other Great Cities of the
region such as Pella and Beit Shean.
Tour
Guide Training: Participants in Alphabetical Order
Khaled Abu
Alia, Tour Guide, Jerusalem
Jamal As'ad, Member of Artas Municipal
Council
Hamdi Ayish, Head of Artas Municipal
Council
Issa 'Abdullah 'Awad, Tour Guide,
Jerusalem
Nedal Barahma, Tour Operator, Jericho
Fattima Buhluq, Teacher, Sabastia
'Abir Darwish, Computer Technology,
Sabastia
Samir Yahia Mohammad Darwish, Teacher,
Sabastia
Rami Samir el-Haj, Hotel Management,
Sabastia
Adham Ghazal, Archaeologist, Sabastia
Qadri Ghazal, Deputy Mayor of Sabastia
Municipality
Sameh Halleq, Financial Manager, Al Quds
University
Ala' Hamad, Member of Sabastia
Municipality
Osama Hamdan, Architect, PUSH Team, Al
Quds University
Maha Hawari, Sabastia Community Center
Mohammad Jaradat, Archeologist, PUSH Team,
Al Quds University
Ahmad Ahmad Kayed, Computer Technology,
Sabastia
Marwan Abu Khalaf, Archeologist, PUSH
Team, Al Quds University
Ruba Khashan, Tour Operator, Jericho
Elizabeth Koch, PUSH Project Coordinator
Maram Muhanad, English Teacher, Sabastia
Ghasan Muheibesh, History and Archaeology,
Sabastia
Wafa' Muhibish, Teacher, Sabastia
Yusuf Natsheh, PUSH Project Manager, Al
Quds University
Mohammad Sa'd, Member of Artas Municipal
Council
Fadi Musa 'Issa Sanad, Folklore Research,
Artas
Rezqallah Mahmud Shahin, Folklore Center,
Artas
'Aysha Shihada, Sabastia
Muna Shihada, Sabastia
Ihab Taysir Sulaiman, Tour Guide,
Jerusalem