WEEKLY REPORT 39
May 5, 2015
U. S. Dept. Cooperation Agreement Number: NEA-PSHSS-14-001
BY Michael D. Danti, Cheikhmous Ali, Tate Paulette, Kathryn Franklin, Allison Cuneo, LeeAnn Barnes Gordon, and David Elitzer
DOWNLOAD: REPORT
* This report is based on research conducted by the “Safeguarding the Heritage of the Near East Initiative,” funded by the US Department of State. Monthly reports reflect reporting from a variety of sources and may contain unverified material. As such, they should be treated as preliminary and subject to change.
Executive Summary
During the reporting period, reported cultural heritage damage in Syria remained at an elevated level. Urban warfare represented the leading cause of reported damage with epicenters in Aleppo and Daraa. The level of reported cultural heritage damage in northern Iraq decreased markedly relative to levels documented for March and April when ISIL inflicted severe damage to several heritage sites as part of a campaign of performative intentional destructions.
The media continues to focus attention on the looting, trafficking, and sale of conflict antiquities from Syria and northern Iraq. Recent reports investigate the role of ISIL and other Islamist extremist groups in promoting and controlling these activities and taxing them.
We have included eight incident reports on ISIL deliberate destructions of heritage places in northern Iraq in this report that occurred prior to the program’s inception.
Key points from this report:
- In Syria, urban warfare represented the leading cause of reported damage, particularly in Aleppo and Daraa Governorates. (pp. 7–32)
- The level of reported damage in northern Iraq decreased markedly.
- Media reports focused attention on the looting, trafficking, and sale of conflict antiquities from Syria and northern Iraq.
- New incident reports were produced for ISIL deliberate destruction events that took place in northern Iraq prior to the project’s inception. (pp. 33–76)