Dr. Lynn Meskell

Biography

Lynn Meskell is the Richard D. Green Professor of Anthropology in the School of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Historic Preservation at the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. She also serves as the Middle East Asia Sections Curator at the Penn Museum. Meskell is currently an A.D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University for the term 2019–2026. She has received several Honorary Doctorates and holds Honorary Professorships at notable institutions including Oxford University and the University of the Witwatersrand. Meskell has extensively worked in archaeological theory, socio-politics, and the global heritage sector, particularly examining the implications of multilateral diplomacy and heritage rights. Her influential works include the award-winning book 'Future Ruins: UNESCO, World Heritage, Dream Peace,' which critically assesses the intersection of heritage and global politics. With a research focus that spans various regions including the Middle East, India, and South Africa, she has conducted fieldwork addressing the complexities of heritage destruction and reconstruction, alongside examining the role of colonialism in the heritage sector. Meskell's broad theoretical interests also include feminist postcolonial theory and ethics as they relate to archaeology and heritage management.

Research Interests