Documenting the Palmyrene wool and leather products of Awassi sheep in the countries of the diaspora

PI: Hasan Ali | Collaborators: Lamis Kadah and Yousef Awad
Project ID: 2023SG01 | Location of Research: Hatay, Osmaniye, and Gaziantep provinces, Turkey | Host Institution: Heritage for Peace

CW: the project contains some images of animal butchering.

The city of Palmyra was abandoned in 2015 due to local intensification of combat during the Syrian Civil War, displacing tens of thousands internally and across West Asia. This project concentrates on the material practices of the diaspora in southwest Turkey relating to Awassi shepherding. It further incorporates folklore studies, community engagement, oral history, and archival research as vectors of research.

The Awassi sheep breed is widespread across the Middle East, with significant populations in various countries. In Turkey, it comprises approximately 1.8% of the total sheep population. Its distribution spans southern Anatolia, particularly in the border regions of Antakya (Hatay), Gaziantep, and Urfa, along with the primary range in Syria. Known by various names such as Awassi, Arab, Naimi, or Levantine in Turkey, these sheep are also prevalent in Iraq, where they are referred to as Awassi, associated with the Awasi tribe residing between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The origin of Awassi sheep can be traced back to the deserts of the Levant and Iraq, making this region their oldest known homeland. Referred to scientifically as fat-tailed sheep due to the prominent fatty deposit that replaces their tails and covers the hind area, these sheep have inhabited the Awassi region, encompassing the Levant and Mesopotamia, for a minimum of 5,000 years.

The residents of Palmyra, known as Tadmurians or Palmyerens, continue to engage in the husbandry of Awassi sheep despite the risks posed by the ongoing conflict. For generations, the Tadmurians have relied on the resources provided by Awassi sheep, utilizing their milk, wool, and leather to sustain various crafts and traditions. This longstanding relationship with Awassi sheep has shaped the livelihoods of the Tadmurians, who have inherited expertise in milk processing, wool spinning, hand weaving, leatherworking, and the crafting of leather goods.

Selected Assets

The following topics are summarized in a series of articles published alongside the collection.

Acknowledgements

The EMKP thanks the many knowledge-holders in Gaziantep, İskenderun, Çardak, and Reyhanlı for sharing their cultural practices throughout the making of this project. This project is moreover indebted to the photographic expertise of Ahmad Alkanee and the collaboration of Yousef Awad and Lamis Kadah.