Awet Araya

Awet Araya is a Lecturer in the Arts of Africa at the Sainsbury Research Unit for the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, University of East Anglia. She is an Eritrean archaeologist, museum curator, and academic with extensive experience in African and Islamic archaeology, material culture studies, and diaspora research. She is currently accepting PhD students and is actively engaged in research and public history initiatives.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in African and Islamic Archaeology, University of Exeter (2018–2023)
• BA in Anthropology and Archaeology, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Eritrea

Her research focuses on the archaeology of East Africa, the Indian Ocean World, and African presence in the Arabian-Persian Gulf from the 7th to 20th century CE. She uses material culture, especially ceramics, to trace African diasporic connections and historical interregional networks. Her doctoral work centered on African material culture in Bahrain, involving fieldwork and museum collection analysis at the British Museum and the National Museum of Uganda.

Her current research includes public history and collaborative academic projects. She co-organizes the Forum for Medieval Studies in Ethiopia and the Horn and contributes to community-based initiatives such as 'Exploring Migration and Blackness Amongst Northeast African Diaspora Communities of London through Ancient Greek Storytelling'. While no recent articles were listed, her work spans interdisciplinary themes in archaeology, museum studies, and African heritage.

Professional Roles:

• Africa Project Curator, British Museum (2023–2024)
• Visiting Scholar, British Museum (January 2024 – January 2025)
• Curator, Archaeology and Ethnography Section, Northern Red Sea Region Museum, Massawa, Eritrea (2011–2016)

She has contributed to the redevelopment of the Sainsbury Africa Gallery and participated in the 'African Histories and Heritage Tour' programme drafting workshop. Her work bridges academic research, museum curation, and community engagement, emphasizing African histories and global connections.