- Short history:

1982

Created in 1982 on Christian Robin's initiative, the former French Center for Yemeni Studies (CFEY) ambitioned at its beginnings to host archeological missions working on the territory of the ex- Arab Republic of Yemen.

1991

In 1991, with Yemeni Unity, the CFEY became competent on the whole Yemen . A scientific board was appointed and several research grants were created. The CFEY acquired the full status of a research center.

1992

Since 1992 the CFEY enjoyed financial autonomy and gradually adopted a multidisciplinary approach (archeology and social sciences).

2001

In 2001 the Center was renamed into French Center for Archeology and Social Sciences in Sanaa (CEFAS) in order to emphasize its regional calling for the entire Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia Oman, Kuwait and Eritrea ).

2002

In 2002 it became officially associated with the CNRS (UMS 2555) which re-enforced its scientific base.

2007

In 2007 the CEFAS became the USR 3141

 

- Statute

The CEFAS is a research institute under the authority of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a Research and Service Unit (USR 3141) of the National Center for Scientific Research ( CNRS ). It thus belongs to the network of French Research Institutes Abroad (27 IFRE institutes over the world).

The CEFAS is integrated within the regional ESPAR pole (Egypt- Sudan- Arabian Peninsula) with the Center of Studies and Documentation in Economics, Law and Social Sciences (CEDEJ, Cairo ) and the French section of the Direction of Antiquities and National Museums in Sudan (SFDAS Khartoum).

For administration and evaluation:

•  CEFAS has a scientific board which meets once in a year and plays an evaluation role.

•  A Strategic Orientation Committee (COS) also meets once a year in order to determine the geopolitical orientations of the Institutes.

•  A follow up committee is in charge of coordination with local institutions.

 

- Direction

Jean Lambert was appointed director of the CEFAS on 1 st September 2003, following François Burgat (1997- 2003). The Center was previously directed by Rémy Audouin, Marie-Christine Danchotte and Franck Mermier.

 

- Disciplines

Archeology, humanities and social sciences (history, anthropology, sociology, law, economy, political sciences, literature and languages, ethnomusicology, etc...)

 

- Agreements and partnership conventions

- Yemenite Center for study and research , Sanaa (YCSR)

- General organization of antiquities and museums, Sanaa (GOAM)

- University of Sanaa

- Social Development Fund, Sanaa (FSD)

- Yemenite Center for Musical Heritage, Sanaa (YCMH)

- King Faysal Center , Riyad , Saudi Arabia

- Faculty of social sciences in the University of Kuwait

- Faculty of humanities and social science of Tunis , Tunisia

- University of Geneva , of Lausanne and the university institute of development (IUED), Lausanne (Suisse)

- Institute of political sciences in Paris , Aix en Provence and Lyon

- INALCO

- ENS

- University of Provence , Marseille

- IREMAM, Aix-en-Provence

- Laboratory of Semitic Languages (Collège de France)

 

- Services and events

The CEFAS accommodates researchers of all nationalities for both short and long scientific stays. The CEFAS tries to provide for students and researchers the scientific, documentary, administrative and hosting support they need.

Research permits can be obtained through the GOAM (for archeology) and through YCSR (for social sciences).

In political and social sciences the CEFAS trains Yemeni specialists and encourages researchers in the Arabic and Islamic cultural domains to include into their work a comparative approach with Yemen .

The Center offers a supportive environment to young researchers, PhD. students being integrated into a team of permanent researchers. The Center also provides the possibility of an internship in research for students preparing a thesis in a topic related to Yemen or the Arabic peninsula. Besides the Center offers an internship in administration (half-time) with tasks of general interest.

Moreover the CEFAS regularly organizes courses in Yemenite dialect and classical Arabic.

Scientific meetings organized by the CEFAS: Lectures, Conferences and seminars

 

- Publications

CEFAS publishes and translates the works of French or European researchers as well as those of local partners on Yemen and boarder countries. These articles are published in either Les Chroniques Yemenites (periodical with a reading panel) or in Cahiers du CEFAS (monographs and travel accounts). Furthermore the CEFAS publishes alone or in co-edition with following co-editors: the REMMM and Peuples Mediterranéens journals, as well as Edisud, Karthala, or in association with other research centers (IFPO, CEDEJ, IREMAM Aix-en-Provence, URBAMA Tours, American Institute for Yemeni Studies (Sanaa), Deutsches Orient-Institut Hamburg , Deutsches Archeologisches Institut, etc).

 

Online publications:

Les Chroniques yemenites (annual journal) http://cy.revues.org/

Les Chroniques du manuscrit au Yémen   http://www.cefas.com.ye/cmy/cmy.html

 

- Location

The unique location of the CEFAS suits particularly well its missions. It is situated in an historical environment at a 5 minutes walking distance from Tahrir Square (Midan Tahrir) the heart of the modern city of Sanaa . The entirely traditional architecture consists of one main building and 3 annexes (total surface of about 1.000m 2 ), a garden and a basin (birké). It is divided into administrative part, offices for the researchers, library and a dozen of rooms for visitors.

 

- Library and documents

Established in the end of the 80's, the Center's library covers diverse fields: archeology and contemporary societies in Southern Arabia, Saudi Arabia and Oman .

The library is used by numerous Yemenite and foreign researchers. In 2007, the collection of the library counts over 9000 documents: 7000 books (two thirds of which are written in Arabic) and 1400 diverse documents (Master's and doctoral thesis, extracts, reports and conferences). A collection of about 30 titles of Yemenite Press add up to 15 000 issues published since 1970. The collection of scientific journals in Arabic and European languages rounds up to some 100 titles. A precious collection of laws and government decrees published from the Yemenite revolution in 1962 until today completes this collection unique in Yemen .

The library also figures 800 maps of Yemen and the Arabic peninsula and a collection of sound and video recordings (around 300 videos, audio documents and CDs). A list of recent purchases is available online on the Center's web page ( http://www.cefas.com.ye ) for the following subjects: archeology and ancient history, Islamic history, contemporary society, literature and linguistics, religion and law. The new catalogue is in progress and can be consulted on http://cefas.bibli.fr.