WEEKLY REPORT 65-66
October 28 – November 10, 2015
U. S. Dept. Cooperation Agreement Number: NEA-PSHSS-14-001
BY Michael D. Danti, Allison Cuneo, Marina Gabriel, Susan Penacho, Kyra Kaercher, LeeAnn Barnes Gordon, Emily Ham, and John O’Neill
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, there was a relative decline in reported heritage incidents in Syria and Iraq. There were credible reports of the detonation of a tunnel bomb south of the main entrance of the Aleppo Citadel/north of the Khan Shouneh. Various factions of opposition groups in Aleppo have detonated a large number of tunnel bombs in this area since May 2014. The intended target is unclear, but this attack may signal future efforts to bomb this area to supplant regime forces occupying the citadel.
On November 12, Prof. Mamoun Abdulkarim (Director-General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria) presented a lecture detailing the cultural heritage crisis in Syria at the Royal Geographical Society in London. The event was organized by the World Monuments Fund Britain. Other speakers included James Davis of the Google Cultural Institute and Lisa Ackerman (Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the WMF). Abdulkarim made multiple appearances in Europe to build international support for efforts to save Syrian heritage from destruction. In other news, the media continued to focus on alleged antiquities trafficking in the U.S. by Hobby Lobby as well as the potential impact of Russian airstrikes on Syrian cultural assets.
Key points from this report:
- Russia conducted airstrikes near the archaeological sites of Palmyra in Homs Governorate at Tell al-Hara in Daraa Governorate.
- Newly-released DigitalGlobe satellite imagery reveals evidence of conflict-related looting at the site of Rasha el-Qibliye.
- The DGAM reported damage to the site of Al Bara, which forms part of the Dead Cities region of Syria (ASOR CHI Incident Report SHI 15-0146). The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative has produced a report on the damage as well.
- On November 8, the DGAM reported that some media outlets had released information on an alleged tunnel bombing west of the main (south) entrance of the Aleppo Citadel. The DGAM’s regional office in Aleppo later verified the report and localized the damage to the open area between the Citadel’s main gate and the Khan Shouneh. ASOR CHI is currently gathering additional details.