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Damage and vandalization in the city of Barad, 20 km south from Afrin [image: Human Rights Organisation in Afrin, Syria]
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New damage in Barad in Afrin
Human Rights Organisation in Afrin, Syria, reported about damage to the site of Barad. 20km to the south of Afrin the city, Barad is one of the most important classical archaeological sites in Afrin, containing the grave of St. Mar Maroun, a 4th century Syriac hermit, who is the father of Maronite sect. Barad acquired much fame and interest from the Maronites, who built religious facilities there in 2010, to accommodate pilgrims and visitors.
Recently, the Afrin Archaeological Directorate obtained videos that show clear evidence of the extent of damage and vandalization inflicted on the desecrated site. For example, the new church, which was built by the Maronite sect in 2010, was desecrated and its contents looted before it was demolished.
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Looting at the archaeological site of Alibisekeh in Afrin
Human Rights Organization in Afrin, Syria, reported new looting at the archaeological site of Alibisekeh in Afrin, as well as reports of encroachments on other archaeological and historical sites in Afrin. Many archaeological sites have been excavated or bulldozed, and looted. Alibisekeh is located in the north-western part of Afrin region, in Rajo sub-district, 35 km away from Afrin city.
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New project to fight illicit traffic: Culture Theft in the Middle East
See the Losses is a project that aims to document the extent of the theft and looting of cultural heritage in the MENA region on the basis of case studies. These case studies will be published as a book in August 2021, jointly edited by the Museum for Islamic Art of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and the Freunde des Museums für Islamische Kunst im Pergamonmuseum e.V. and published by the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz.
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New Spanish documentary: Stolen Blood Antiquities
RTVE streamed a french documentary (2016) directed by Jean-Luc Raynaud and produced by Dream Way Productions, about how the antiques stolen from the Middle East have made a resurgence in art markets around the world. They suggest that the illegal business generates millions of euros. The European police are working alongside archaeologists to stop criminal networks that use art trafficking to finance terrorist activities.
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The second phase to restore the Girls’ Palace in the city of Raqqa has begun
Rebuilding Syria reported on Twitter that the second phase to restore the Girls’ Palace in the city of Raqqa has begun. This archaeological site dates back to the 12th century, and the building’s construction is of Iranian origin - something that was very rare in 12th century Syria. The first phase was carried out in 2018.
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Documenting the current status of the Dead Cities in Northwestern Syria
SIMAT published another report on documenting the current situation of ancient villages in northwestern Syria, which are a group of archaeological sites - 40 of these ancient ruined villages are registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, dating back to the Roman and Byzantine eras. The reports aim to document the current situation of those villages during the conflict, and to monitor the damage that has occurred. The documentation is based on reports from visits to these sites, documentation of the destruction that was exposed through photography, and recorded testimonies from the local community. This report provides a detailed perception of the current situation of the archaeological villages in Archaeological Park 4 – Mount Al-Zawiyah.
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Syria participates in the International Resistance Film Festival
Syria Times reported on the participation of Syria in the International Resistance Film Festival, in its 16th edition, with the film “The Blood of Palms”, directed by Najdat Ismail Anzour. The film narrates the last days of the life of the archaeologist Khaled Al-Asaad, the director of Palmyra’s antiquities. It also talks about the ancient life of Palmyra.
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Mozan/Urkesh Prize for Best Heritage Conservation Paper: Call for Papers - 2020
The Mozan/Urkesh Archaeological Project is looking for original papers from undergraduate students in the first and second year who are enrolled at Syrian universities and institutes from different disciplines: archaeology, history, literature, engineering, media, and tourism. A committee from the Mozan/Urkesh Archaeological Project will select the best papers from submissions by November 27th, 2020 at 6 pm, Syria time; the winners will be announced on December 31st, 2020.
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SDF pledge to protect cultural property
The Syrian Democratic Forces, through military instructions issued by the General Command, have undertaken to ensure that cultural property during the armed conflict is respected and not compromised in areas under the security and military control of the Democratic Council of Syria.
The Syrian Democratic Forces affirm their commitment to clear archaeological sites and everything related to the cultural heritage of any military presence, if any, and not to intentionally damage the cultural heritage. The SDF shall also refrain from any use of the cultural property and its immediate surroundings for military purposes, and take all feasible precautions to avoid accidental damage to cultural property and reduce it in any way. According to the instructions, the SDF, together with the civil authorities in northern and eastern Syria, take measures to protect the cultural property even in the absence of conflict.
The text of the instructions issued is available on the Authority of Culture in Northeastern Syria website.
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Call for papers: “Solidarity in culture: Heritage protection under conditions of crisis”
The National and University Library in Zagreb, Croatia, is organising an international conference on Solidarity in culture: Heritage protection under conditions of crisis” from 18 to 20 March 2021. The aim of the conference is to facilitate understanding and dialogue about new approaches to integrated conservation and risk management based on solidarity and cooperation between diverse partners that provide potential for resilience-building to disasters. Participation in the conference is possible through oral virtual presentations, virtual poster presentation and virtual workshops. The technical specifications will be communicated at the time of their acceptance.
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New publication: Using cultural heritage for refugees: The Multaka Project
Isber Sabrine published a new publication "Using cultural heritage for refugees: The Multaka Project". This publication presents the Multaka Project, which is a project initiated by the Museum of Islamic Art at the Pergamon Museum. It aims to utilise the Syrian and Iraqi heritage displayed in the Pergamon Museum in order to show the refugees the huge international value of their heritage. At the same time, it helps to use museums as a place for intercultural dialogue, trying to find the links between the refugees' countries of origin and Germany. Guided tours are organised in different collections: in the Museum of Islamic Art, the Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Bode Museum. The refugees are also invited to participate in the workshops and special guided tours alongside Germans, to help them to be in direct touch with the host community and create links between them.
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Who owns Syria's cultural heritage
The Middle East Institute published an article about the political manipulation of cultural heritage as a powerful tool in the armoury of soft power. The article, which is part of the series on Shu Al-badīl? (What's the alternative), highlights the role of organisations outside of Syria in preserving local heritage.
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News Updates
(Not covered in other sections)
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