Q&A with Philippe Marquis, director of the French Archaeological Delegation in Afghanistan, part of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Q: When did you first encounter Laura Tedesco, and under what circumstances?

A: I first met Laura in Kabul in August 2010. She called me and we met in my office in Kabul. She had been recommended to me by Rita Wright who had been her professor and tutor for her Ph.D. (at New York University).

Q: As a French archaeologist working to discover and preserve historical sites in Afghanistan, what was your initial reaction to the U.S.'s Cultural Heritage Program, its mission and its leadership?

A: We had always a very good relationship with the people working for the U.S.'s cultural heritage program and always had good cooperation, but until the arrival of Laura we had no archaeologist to discuss (issues) with, so it has been very positive to have Laura.

Q: From this distance, Laura's role appears to be critical: part science, part diplomacy. Can you briefly describe what's at stake and some of the obstacles in the way of achieving archaeology's goals in the country?

A: Yes, Laura's role is critical. You can't be involved in an archaeological program and ignore the political, economic and social reality of the country you work in. It was one of the most difficult parts of the work done by Laura. What is at stake is the cultural stability of this country. Through the programs we have we try to give back to the Afghans a vision of their cultural identity which could help them to get past the traumatic situation they are still facing. People needs to be proud of their history, of the achievements of their ancestors which could even provide them guidelines for the future. They need to know their history, which is not visible to them, and that's what we are doing.

Q: Tell me a little about your working relationship with Laura.

A: We have been working very closely with Laura, sharing our projects and our concerns, discussing often what was feasible or what was impossible to manage, helping each other to implement our programs. We are so few people to work in such a field that there is no competition between us but a real understanding of the need to associate our resources.

Q: The rich cultural heritage of Afghanistan is often obscured by its politics and history of conflict. But the country has an astounding pre-Islamic past. What have you learned through your work there? What are the main lessons Afghanistan has taught you?

A: The main lesson we can get from the work we are doing is this country is that Afghanistan is neither doomed nor blessed; it has been going through many events as both invader and invaded; and it has been a country where the arts have been flourishing and where ideas and ideologies are many. It's also a real crossroads of cultures. It has taught me humility and the value of cooperation.

Editor's note: This interview was edited for grammar and style.