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Seizure of antiquities prepared for smuggling in Daraa
The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM) reported that the Syrian authorities in Daraa seized antiquities that were intended for smuggling and handed them over to the Daraa Antiquities Department. In turn, the Daraa Antiquities Department inspected the pieces. It was found that these pieces belong to different historical periods, such as the modern Bronze Age, the Roman period, and the Hellenistic period.
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Turkey thwarts the smuggling of antiques from Syria
According to the Anadolu Agency (AA) the Turkish authorities thwarted the smuggling of 2,533 ancient coins at the "Gilwa Gozo" border gate with Syria. The Turkish authorities indicated that the seized coins were sent to the Directorate of Museums in Hatay, where it was found that 308 pieces dated to the Hellenistic era, 2016 pieces to the Roman era, and 209 pieces from the Byzantine era.
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Heritage of the Euphrates
Launched on August 24, 2021, on a Facebook page “Heritage of the Euphrates”, “The Syrian stories” is a program that sheds light on Syrian characteristics and traditions. Presented by Duaa Al-Soboah, the program deals with the variations of culture in Syria and its distinctions, such as dress, dialects, customs, and cultural traditions. A promotional video is available here.
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Completion of the first phase of the project Atlas of archaeological sites in Syria using the GIS system
The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM) has completed the first phase of the project Atlas of archaeological sites in Syria using the GIS system. The work focused on preparing the base map of the Syrian Arab Republic, including the borders of governorates, regions, cities, villages, roads, and rivers. The coordinates of about 700 archaeological sites were determined on the map distributed over several governorates and linked with the information related to them in turn.
The project aims to create a central database for all archaeological sites in Syria that contains plans, pictures, primary and secondary historical periods, national and foreign working missions, damages of various kinds, uploading them on the map to ensure the possibility of producing different multi-purpose maps for documentation, study, statistics and future plans for excavation projects and studies archaeological surveys, exploration, rehabilitation, restoration, maintenance, preservation, cultural and tourist investment, and various tourist itineraries.
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Launching the project of the historical map of the city of Damascus using a GIS system
The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM), reported that they have started a project to prepare a historical map of the buildings of the city of Damascus, using the GIS system. This project aims to determine the historical periods of the existing buildings in the city and to understand the evolution of city planning through different periods.
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A meeting entitled “Cultural Heritage in Danger” between experts from the DGAM and the Russian Academy of Sciences
The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM) reported that a meeting between some experts from the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) and a delegation from the Russian Academy of Sciences was held. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the prospects for cooperation to protect the Syrian cultural and urban heritage. During the meeting, the Russian side presented the results of the documentation work it had undertaken for the ancient city of Palmyra and some churches. The Director-General of Antiquities and Museums, Mohamed Nadhir Awad, indicated that cooperation between the two sides is developing well and that the Russian side promised to provide three-dimensional documentation when it is fully completed to be used in restoration operations.
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Restoration of Bosra Al-Sham Castel
The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM) has carried out studies to enable restoration interventions to Bosra Al-Sham Castle to avoid further damage, maintaining the cultural and social importance of the castle.
The main works that have been implemented included:
- Phase 1: Restoration of the curtain walls between the fourth and fifth towers; the first phase of the planning project; multispectral data was collected, including satellite images of the Bosra Al-Sham Castle; and plan showing the curtain wall between the fourth and fifth towers.
- Phase 2: Sorting and documentation.
- Phase 3: Restoration and reconstruction phase which includes: document collection management; exterior façade restoration; and restoration of the interior façade of the curtain wall.
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Restoration of the Museum of Popular Traditions in Aleppo continue
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) released an article about the ongoing restoration works in the Museum of Popular Traditions at Al-Jadidah neighborhood in Aleppo governorate. The museum, which was sabotaged and destroyed, was located in one of the significant historic houses of Aleppo. Pierre Ghassan Zarz, the contractor of the restoration project, said that the restoration acts include sculptural works of stones and construction works for facades and ceilings, giving attention to heritage details. Zarz pointed out that the Museum of Popular Traditions is one of the most important monuments that attract visitors from all over the world due to its unique architecture and decorations.
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Restoration of molded skulls from prehistoric times by the DGAM
Turath Athari Syria reported on their Facebook page that the Directorate of the Technical Laboratory, Laboratory for the Restoration of Organic Materials, restored two molded skulls kept at the National Museum of Damascus and date back to the pre-pottery Neolithic period (6500-6000 BC). It is worth mentioning that molded skulls are a group of human skulls whose forms were reshaped after death, and used in religious rituals. The two skulls are considered among the most important artifacts discovered during the oldest systematic excavations of Neolithic sites in the early agricultural villages, conducted by the joint Syrian-French mission in southern Syria.
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Turkish restoration of Nebi Huri
Turkey has carried out restorations at the Nebi Huri archeological site in Afrin, which it has controlled since 2018, according to North Press Agency. The restorations are of a more Turkish style than the original style.
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Opening of the traveling exhibition of Syrian antiquities in China entitled “Incredible Syria”
The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM) reported on opening of “Incredible Syria” exhibition at the Museum of Shenzhen, China, which will be hosted in Chinese museums for two years. DGAM’s participation consisted of 195 important archaeological and artistic exhibits that were collected from several museums in Syria. Exhibits were carefully selected to tell the story of the Syrian civilization from the dawn of history through historical periods until the Islamic periods and to express the uniqueness, diversity, and richness of the Syrian cultural heritage.
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Valuable Syrian mosaics on show in Athens
Ekathimerini wrote about a digital exhibition in display until August 6, 2021 at Melina Mercouri Cultural Center, that highlighted the efforts to salvage historic artworks from the ravages of war. The Syrian Mosaic Pavement Documentation project, launched in 2004, was one of Greece’s most important programs in Syria before its second phase – a workshop on conservation – was violently interrupted by the war in 2008. The archive is now safely filed away at the center’s offices in Thessaloniki in northern Greece, serving as a valuable resource not just for researchers interested in East Mediterranean Byzantine art, but also for international law enforcement authorities investigating incidents of looting and destruction at Syria’s museums, monuments, and archeological sites.
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Syrian restorers will take a course on the restoration of monuments in Chersonesos and St. Petersburg
TASS reported that, the deputy director of the Institute for the History of Material Culture (IIMK) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Natalia Solovieva, head of the projects “Palmyra in Time and Space and “Salvation of Early Christian Temples in Syria”, specialists of the Department of Antiquities and Museums of Syria will undergo practice in Russia on the preservation and restoration of antiquities during their visit to Chersonesos and St. Petersburg. According to her, Syrian specialists will observe the archaeological excavations in Chersonesos and the work of the restorers of the State Hermitage.
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News Updates
(Not covered in other sections)
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