The Syrian-Hungarian Archaeological Mission
The Research Programme of Pázmány Péter Catholic University

The Syrian-Hungarian Archaeological Mission (SHAM) was launched in 2000 as a collaborative research program between Pázmány Péter Catholic University and the Directorate General of Archaeology of Syria (DGAM). In its early years, the mission focused on regular fieldwork in the Syrian coastal zone and nearby areas to identify and document remnants of the late antique and medieval settlement network. Through its efforts in the governorates of Tartous, Latakia, Homs, and Idlib, the mission successfully recorded hundreds of previously unknown monuments, including late antique settlements, Crusader residential towers, and numerous cave castles.

In 2007, at the request of the DGAM, SHAM began excavating Qal'at al-Marqab, known in Christian texts as Margatnak—one of the largest medieval fortifications in the Middle East. Since 2017, the mission has also worked on the excavation of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Crac des Chevaliers.

The castle of Margat was originally built in 1062 by local tribes to control the Syrian coast. After a brief period of Byzantine rule, the Crusaders captured it in 1118. In 1187, the Order of the Knights of St. John—one of the most powerful international organizations in medieval Europe—purchased the fortress, making it a crucial stronghold within the Duchy of Antioch. Under their control, it became one of the region's most formidable fortifications. The castle was famously visited by King Richard the Lionheart in 1218, and also by King Andrew II of Hungary, who ordered a generous annuity for its upkeep.

The fortress, which spans more than 15 hectares, remained in Crusader hands until it was taken by the Mamluks in 1285. The area around the fortress was inhabited until 1958.

The primary goal of the Syrian-Hungarian Archaeological Mission (SHAM) is to conduct a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary study of the Qal'at al-Marqab castle, its surrounding medieval fortified towns, and the broader environment, with the ultimate aim of preparing the site for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The research program covers various specializations, including:

  • Historical source processing
  • Geological and geophysical research
  • Seismological investigations
  • Archaeological excavations
  • Cleaning, conservation, and restoration of artefactual material
  • Wall painting research and conservation
  • Architectural surveys
  • Anthropological, archaeozoological, archaeobotanical, and geoarchaeological studies
  • Research on the history of art and architecture
  • Laboratory material analysis
  • Study of medieval water management
  • Ethnographic documentation
  • Research on settlement networks
  • Reconstruction of the medieval environment
  • Computer-based reconstruction programs

Additionally, the mission’s experts are planning the restoration of monuments within the castle and the creation of museum exhibits.

Led by the Institute of Archaeology of the Hungarian University of Archaeology, the mission involves extensive professional cooperation, with participation from nearly all major Hungarian universities and research centres. Over the course of nearly thirty fieldwork seasons in the past 13 years, more than 150 Hungarians have worked in Syria, with more than half of them being university students. Alongside Hungarian experts and students, Croatian, British, Italian, German, French, and Lebanese researchers have contributed to the excavations under the Hungarian banner.

Since the mission’s inception, dozens of Syrian students have participated in summer internships at the castle, supported by research and educational cooperation agreements between Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPKE) and various Syrian universities.

As the only archaeological mission operating abroad, SHAM continued its fieldwork and educational activities in Syria despite the outbreak of the war in 2011. Furthermore, the mission has extended its training efforts to Hungary, hosting Syrian colleagues and students for professional development. The results of SHAM’s work, which has garnered significant international attention, are regularly presented through English and Arabic publications and exhibitions. These results have also formed the foundation for numerous MA and PhD theses at the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Szeged.


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