“Syria’s millennia-old cultural heritage has suffered immense damage as a result of the war since 2011, but there is hope for restoration and preservation in the future.” This is how Dr. Youssef Kanjou, a Syrian archaeologist and member of the editorial board of tünews INTERNATIONAL, summarized the current situation of Syrian antiquities in an interview with “Türkije Today” one day after the end of the dictatorship in Syria. Several significant sites have been destroyed, but many have remained intact. Some of the most important archaeological sites such as Palmyra, Ebla and Mari have suffered severe damage because they were used as military bases during the conflict.
Until he fled to Japan and then to Germany in 2013, Kanjou was director of the National Archaeological Museum in Aleppo and reports: “Currently, all Syrian museums are safe, there are no reports of looting or attacks. All Syrians cherish their museums as they are an integral part of our identity.” The museum in Aleppo was well protected, he said, which is encouraging given the city’s precarious situation after more than four years of intense conflict.
Illegal excavations by the Assad family
When asked by the Turkish news magazine about illegal excavations and looting during the war, he confirmed that most of these illegal excavations were protected by the Syrian regime’s secret police. “These activities often unearthed artifacts that we as archaeologists and museum experts were unable to document or protect. Since the 1980s, the Assad family was indirectly involved in these activities and supported by the secret police.”
Preservation and restoration of cultural heritage
Since 2013, Kanjou and Syrian colleagues have been working with an international team to create a comprehensive cultural heritage database for the Aleppo region. This documents all damage and collects the necessary information for restoration within the city and in the surrounding areas. “Only through a concerted effort can we ensure the proper restoration and preservation of Syria’s invaluable cultural and historical treasures,” says Youssef Kanjou. The first and most important step in this process is to enable qualified Syrian cultural heritage professionals and experts to return to Syria. “But the people of Syria also need to understand that our cultural heritage belongs to all Syrians, not to the Assad family or any regime.” He himself wants to return to Syria as soon as possible to take part in the reconstruction process and ‘directly contribute to the preservation of our history and identity for the next generation’.
To read the full interview: Türkiye Today | Assad involved in illegal excavations
tun24121001