Belgian archaeologists abroad: from antiquarians to interdisciplinary research

Belgian archaeological research abroad dates back to the late nineteenth century. However, until the 1930s, research projects outside Belgium were undertaken only very sporadically. This changed when the Royal Museums for Art and History (RMAH) started large excavation programmes in Syria and Egypt. The period after World War II witnessed a growth in investigations abroad largely due to the increasing research by universities.Furthermore, Belgian research itself followed the global trend of increasing scientific interdisciplinary cooperation in archaeological research. At present, Belgian institutes also integrate the broader socio-cultural context of archaeological heritage research through an extensive collaboration with local stakeholders, which can assist in a number of areas such as the development of local educational programmes or sustainable heritage management practices.