This session takes stock of and showcases the current state-of-the-art in synchrotron radiation enabled archaeology and cultural heritage research in the EMME region (Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East). The session explores how these approaches can be used in resolving key questions in the archaeology of the EMME region and beyond, as well as how these approaches contribute to research, conservation and preservation of cultural heritage. In addition to papers arising from cultural heritage research based on data acquisition at synchrotron radiation facilities around the world, and synoptic papers, this session also highlights the EMME region synchrotron, SESAME (www.sesame.org.jo), and explores its role in and contributions to cultural heritage research, as well as the importance of strategic national laboratory facilities such as BioMERA (https://biomera.cyi.ac.cy/).