How 30,000 archaeological treasures were saved from imminent destruction during Syria's civil war
A new study sheds light on how Syrian archaeologists risked their lives to rescue approximately 30,000 priceless artifacts from the Deir ez-Zor Museum during the summers of 2014 and 2015 as the city faced the imminent threat of capture by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh.
In the summer of 2014 and 2015, a daring operation saved approximately 30,000 priceless artifacts from the Deir ez-Zor Museum in Syria, facing the imminent threat of capture by ISIS. Situated near Iraq's border, the city was a battleground filled with oil and gas fields, making it a highly contested area. Maamoun Abdulkarim, the director-general of Syria's Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), led the rescue mission, emphasizing the importance of decision-making, institutional resilience, trust, and rapid adaptation to changing circumstances.
The operation, conducted amidst active hostilities, required swift action despite the high risks and uncertainties. The museum was only accessible through a narrow, vulnerable corridor, adding to the danger. While the exact number of looted artifacts and intact museums remains unknown, the period post-2014 saw a significant rise in looting and destruction of cultural sites across Syria, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and Yemen.
Abdulkarim's rescue mission, which involved relocating over 300,000 artifacts to secure sites across Syria, highlighted the crucial role of cultural heritage in the collective memory and identity of humanity. He stressed that the rescue operation was not just about saving museum pieces but protecting thousands of years of human history and the communities in the Euphrates region.
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