Applied Anthropologist Profile: Dr. Selma Al-Radi, Archaeologist and Preservationist of the Amiriya Madrasa

Figure 1: Dr. Selma Al-Radi (Source: Trowelblazers)

 

Not all heroes wear capes.  It could be argued that most do not intend on becoming heroes.  While the definition of what and who is a hero can and is debated it can be successfully argued that Dr. Selma Al-Radi, an Iraqi archaeologist, is a hero (Figure 1).  She dedicated her career to pursuing her love of archaeology, opening doors for women in the region, as well as restoring one of the area’s most magnificent structures. 

 

Born on July 23, 1939 to an Iraqi ambassador Dr. Al-Radi did not grow up in the country she was born.  She spent most of her life growing up in India, but it was her love of the Middle East that drew her back.  After she earned her Bachelor’s of Arts from the University of Cambridge she took a post at the National Museum of Iraq.  She was one of the first of two women to become archaeologists for the museum.  The other woman just so happened to be her cousin.  Together, they discovered a cache of Nimrud Ivories, which are complexly carved ivories created between the 9^th and 7^th centuries.

 

She continued her education, earning her Master’s degree from Columbia and her Doctorate from the University of Amsterdam.  Her doctoral research focused on the Mediterranean where she studied a Bronze Age site in Cyprus.  Despite these scholarly details she returned to the Middle East in 1977, becoming employed as an advisor to the National Museum of Yemen in Sana’a. 

 

Figure 2: Fully Restored Amiriya Madrasa (Source: NYT)

 

During this employment she happened upon a discovery that would set the course of her career: the Amiriya Madrasa, an abandoned palace structure in Rada, Yemen (Figure 2).  The grand palace had been commissioned by the last sultan of the Tahirid Dynasty, with construction being completed in 1504.  The grand structure included a madrasa, religious school; mosque, a place of worship; residential areas; and a hammam, a bath with medieval shower stalls.  While the architecture of the structure was incredible it was also the home of various magnificent works of art as paintings and murals were embedded into the walls throughout the palace.  Unfortunately, when the sultan became a casualty of war the new rulers deemed the Amiriya Madrasa as a waste of money.  It was too decadent for their conservative taste, and it was abandoned.  Over the years it fell into disrepair and covered with centuries of garbage as it was the site of the town of Rada’s landfill.

 

Al-Radi refused to allow this archaeological wonder to continue to be neglected.  Observing the preservation work of Dutch archaeologists she implored their government and the government of Yemen to allow the structure to be restored and conserved.  In 1983 they both agreed, providing her the funding and means of doing so.  She employed local workers while working alongside an archaeological team of Dutch archaeologists to excavate and restore the structure.  She also rediscovered the building technique of qudad, which is a mixture of volcanic ash and slaked lime that is used to waterproof brick.  This inexpensive but effective building method was used to restore the Amiriya Madrasa to its original brilliance. 

 

Her efforts took 25 years to be completed.  In addition to conserving the structural integrity of the structure she spent 15 of those 25 years painstakingly restoring the murals within Amiriya Madrasa.  Astonishingly she completed all of this work at a fraction of what it was expected to cost.  Furthermore, by employing local laborers she was able to secure their interests and commitment to continuing to maintain the structure.  Since 2005 the Amiriya Madrasa has been open to the public, and it contains a small museum dedicated to the building’s history and restoration efforts.  In 2007 Dr. Al-Radi and her colleague received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for their work on the Amiriya Madrasa.  She also went on to publish two books about her work.

 

In 2010 Dr. Al-Radi passed away in her home in New York City.  She is survived by her son, her second husband, and her brother.  She is fondly remembered for her commitment to restoring the Amiriya Madrasa and opening doors for women across the Middle East and world. 

 

References

Fox, M. (2010, October 14). Selma Al-Radi, Restored Historic Madrasa, Dies at 71. New York Times.

Garrett, L. G. (2023, February 24). Selma Al-Radi. Retrieved from Trowel Blazers: https://trowelblazers.com/2023/02/24/selma-al-radi/

The Telegraph. (2010, October 15). Selma al-Radi. The Telegraph.