Damage to Syria’s heritage – 19 February 2015

The DGAM reports that illegal digging has restarted at both Mari and Dura Europos. The work appears to have been carried out at the instigation of ISIL. The information on this story can be found here.

The DGAM reports that 88 Abbasid gold coins and 1 silver Hellenistic coin have been recovered. See the brief and photographs here

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The DGAM (February 14 2015) has posted a useful interactive map of damaged sites in Syria. The map system ‘…allows users to access to the latest information and data on the damaged archaeological sites linked with their geographical dimension, type of damage, significant of the sites as well as photographs.’ The full explanation and link to the map can be found here.

The DGAM (February 12 2015) welcomes UN resolution 2199, banning illegal antiquities trade from Syria, and thanks those contributing to the efforts. See the brief report here.

The Syrian Minster of Culture held a symposium at the National Museum entitled ‘The Reality of Syrian Antiquities During the Crisis’, on February 8, 2015. The workshop will focus on the DGAM’s efforts to protect heritage during the ongoing civil war. See the report here.

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ASOR gave another article reporting damage in Syria and Iraq up to February 9th, noting that the increased fighting in Damascus, Idlib, and Aleppo is harming heritage sites at an alarming rate. See the report here.

(Not covered in other sections)

• A February 18 2015 article from The Independent asks who is buying the artefacts looted by ISIS.
• BBC Radio 4’s flagship investigative news program File on 4 discussed looting in Syria (February 17 2015) here.
• Marissa Fressenden writing for the Smithsonian Magazine asks, ‘Can antiquities looting in Syria be stopped?’ (February 15, 2015).
• An article (February 15 2015) from The Times Free Press warns that ISIS looting combined with civil war is destroying the heritage of both Syria and Iraq.
• On February 13 2015, Counterpunch asks ‘Is the Phoenix rising from the ashes in Syria?’, highlighting the work of local initiatives in protecting heritage sites.
• Illicit Cultural Property ran an article by Derek Fincham entitled ‘Increased attention on Syria’s heritage’ (February 11 2015).
• The Independent (February 11 2015) puts out a ‘Call for UK to take tougher action to save antiquities from ISIS’. The article says that ‘Collectors in the Gulf states are fuelling a multimillion-pound trade in precious relics and artefacts looted by Isis from historic sites, mosques, museums and libraries in Syria and Iraq.’
• A podcast is available from Baruch College, entitled “Looting the Past, Destroying the Future: Revolution, Terrorism, and Archaeology in Egypt and Syria,” (February 9 2015) delivered by Professors Anna Boozer and Erin Thompson.
• A thought-provoking article from Counterpunch on February 4, 2015, asks ‘Who are the real culprits’ in Syria’s looting.
• The Conversation (February 3 2015) takes a broad look at the destruction of heritage sites, including those in Syria here.
• A post on the website of think-tank Chatham House by Sam Hardy and Sasan Aghlani discuss the policing of antiquities and the historic problem of looting here (on pdf).