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KIKU to Detect Looted Artifacts
The Star reported that researchers at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institute have developed the KIKU app to help counter the illegal trade in antiquities. The app uses artificial intelligence to help determine whether an artifact is stolen or fraudulent. The KIKU app was developed with funding of up to 500,000 euros as part of the German Federal Government's National Strategy for Culture and Media. You can visit The Star website and read more about how the app works.
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Body of Khalad al-Asaad presumed found
Numerous news agencies, including SANA and the BBC, reported that the bodies of three people were found in the Al-Kahloul area in the eastern Homs countryside. It is believed that one of them may be the body of archaeologist Khaled Al-Asaad, leading archaeologist and the head of antiquities at the ancient city of Palmyra who was killed in 2015. The agency indicated that the identity of the bodies would be confirmed after conducting a DNA analysis.
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DGAM creates promo videos on the contents of museums in Syria
Syria Times reported that the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) in Syria has started to post promotional videos via social media on the contents of museums in all provinces. The videos show the most accurate details of the artifacts as well as aerial photography of some sites via drones in order to present a panoramic view of the site from all directions.
Watch the promo videos on the DGAM Youtube channel.
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SDF, ISF and DAA meet to discuss site protection
Syriac Press reports that the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) held a meeting attended by SDF leadership, officials of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), and representatives of the Culture Authority of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria to discuss ways of coordinating between the security forces and the Culture Authority’s Directorate for the Protection of Antiquities to protect archaeological sites in region.
During the meeting, the Directorate explained the nature of the archaeological sites and the obstacles they face in preserving them and stressed the need to coordinate with internal security forces and military police to ensure their protection from looters and smugglers.
At the end of the meeting, the SDF stressed its commitment to assist in the protection of cultural property in compliance with international conventions and Law No. 4 of 2019 of the DAA.
According to the Culture Authority website, the meeting resulted in the formation of a tripartite committee committed to protecting cultural heritage.
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ALIPH Launches its Fourth Call for Projects
ALIPH announced the opening of grant applications for projects concerned with preserving threatened cultural heritage that suffers from conflicts around the world. The projects to be submitted must develop protection measures or provide concrete results for the protection of the cultural heritage concerned. These projects should also contribute to building local capacities and experiences, raising community awareness, promoting cultural diversity and gender equality, contributing to sustainable development, and supporting reconciliation and peacebuilding. The organization particularly encourages applications projects that focus on combating the illicit trade in antiquities. The deadline to apply is 3pm CEST on 16 April 2021.
Read the application guidelines here.
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“Return to Palmyra” Digital Exhibition
The Getty Research Institute is holding a digital exhibition, entitled “Return to Palmyra”, inviting audiences to explore the city's rich history. The exhibition presents rare etchings from the eighteenth century and photographs of the site from the nineteenth century, an essay dealing with the history of the Palmyrene people and their steadfastness in the city, and an interview with Walid Khaled Al-Asaad about the modern experience of living and working among the ruins of the city. The exhibition is presented in English and Arabic.
To find out more and take a virtual tour, you can visit the Getty Research Institute official website.
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QNL Fights Artifacts Trafficking
"What is Antiquities Trafficking?" was a webinar organized by Qatar National Library on the 7th and 8th of February. The webinar discussed supply mechanisms for illegal trade in cultural materials and the stakeholders who manage this activities, also the sources, routes, and market countries related to this illegal trade were explored. The webinar included case studies from Syria and Iraq to clarify the various aspects and main features of antiquities smuggling.
This event was part of the "Himaya Project", an initiative launched by the library with the aim of combating illegal trafficking in cultural heritage in the Middle East and North Africa. You can visit the Qatar National Library official website to read more about this webinar.
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News Updates
(Not covered in other sections)
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- Salon talks about the relationship between food, culture and intangible heritage in A beloved Syrian dessert and the inheritance of loss
- The Getty's Blog offers insights into their new exhibition, and more broadly, in The Fight to Preserve an Ancient Homeland in Syria. History and identity come together to tell the story of Palmyra
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