Welcome,

As an Afghan refugee, my research draws on both lived experience and academic scholarship. My research covers in two broad areas - archaeology and cultural heritage. I also seek to answer questions about Afghan identity and historical narratives, with particular attention to how museums can control and curate to a  public understanding of "Afghan history" and "collective identity". 

After completing my master’s degree in Rome, Italy, I began applying these approaches to strengthen connections between Afghan communities and their cultural heritage. I started this website to explore whose heritage is prioritized, who gets to represent it, and how Western museums and cultural institutions shape global narratives about Afghanistan.

My research examines the intersections between cultural heritage and politics in Afghanistan, with a focus on the historical connections between archaeology, imperialism, occupation, and the evolution of museum practiced in Afghanistan. I also research antiquities trafficking, looting, provenance, and the illicit movement of cultural objects from Afghanistan and the wider region. 

I aim to contribute to ongoing access to information about Afghanistan through current and post-Soviet conflicts dealing with preservation, antiquities trafficking, and historical narratives. Through this work, I hope to support a fuller understanding of Afghanistan’s history.

I am also interested in preserving monumental heritage for future generations, even in war zones and at personal risk.