Andrew Petersen has a deep interest in the archaeology, history and the heritage of the Middle East and the Islamic world. His first degree was in Medieval History at the University of St.Andrews followed by an MPhil in Islamic Art and Architecture at the Oriental Institute in Oxford. His PhD at Cardiff University focussed on the evolution of cities in Palestine from the Byzantine period to the early and medieval Islamic eras. His specialist expertise is in the archaeology and architecture of the Middle East although he is also interested in Islamic architecture on a global scale.