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Department of Archaeology

 

Biography

I trained as an architect at the National College of Arts, Lahore, before specialising in building conservation through an MSc in Sustainable Building Conservation at Cardiff University where I was a Chevening Scholar. I have extensive experience working on historic buildings and archaeological sites across South Asia and the UK, including extensive involvement on projects such as Lahore Fort (UNESCO World Heritage site) and various other, significant sites like Wazir Khan Mosque and Wazir khan Hammam. The latter recognised with a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Heritage Conservation.

I have held roles with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Pakistan and in UK-based conservation practice, working on listed buildings and heritage sites. More recently, I have been engaged in collaborative fieldwork with the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan.

In 2026, I joined the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge as a Research Assistant.

Research

My research focuses on the sustainable conservation of historic buildings and archaeological sites, with a particular emphasis on digital heritage documentation and analysis. I am interested in the application of advanced recording techniques, including terrestrial laser scanning, total station survey, photogrammetry, and GIS-based approaches, to support conservation decision-making and long-term heritage management. This includes the post-processing of survey data and the development of high-resolution, structured datasets for documentation, monitoring, and analysis.

I am particularly engaged in the study of archaeological landscapes in Pakistan, focusing on the documentation and conservation of Buddhist, Hellenistic, Hindu Shahi, and Early Islamic sites. My work combines building pathology through condition assessment and digital survey methodologies to produce conservation-led outputs. Regionally, my research spans Mughal-period architecture in South Asia and historic buildings from a range of periods within British heritage contexts.

Other Professional Activities

I am a member of ICOMOS Pakistan and a supporter member of the IHBC, and I am currently working towards full membership.

I am also the co-founder of Essanoor Associates, an architectural firm that has evolved into an independent heritage initiative focused on the digital documentation, preservation, and conservation of historic and archaeological sites.

Job Titles

Research Assistant, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research

General Info

Not available for consultancy
Research Expertise / Fields of study
Built Environment
Heritage Management
Environmental Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, and Landscape studies
Cultural Heritage

Contact Details

sm3109[a]cam.ac.uk
McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
Downing Street
Cambridge
CB2 3ER

Affiliations

Person keywords
Conservation Architecture
Archaeological Heritage
Digital Documentation
Building Pathology
Climate Resilience
Subjects
Archaeology
Heritage Studies
Themes
Environment, Landscapes and Settlement
Heritage
Geographical areas
Britain
Cambridgeshire
South Asia
Periods of interest
Classical - Roman
Medieval
Other Historical
Post-Medieval