A Team of Archaeologists Saved 30,000 Artifacts During the Peak of Syria’s Civil War

In the summer of 2014, amid the peak of Syria's civil war, a courageous team of archaeologists embarked on a daunting mission: rescuing an estimated 30,000 historical artifacts from the now permanently closed Deir ez-Zor Museum in northeastern Syria. This significant effort took place between 2014 and 2015, as the museum faced imminent destruction and the loss of invaluable pieces of history.

Professor Abdulkarim, then director-general of the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), recounted the mission in a recent paper published in the journal Museum Management and Curatorship.

Professor Abdulkarim emphasized that the rescue mission was not merely about saving artifacts, but rather saving "thousands of years of the memory of the Euphrates region." This preservation effort was crucial during a time when the community itself was suffering from immense human losses due to the war. Syria's rich and diverse cultural history spans millennia, from the early human civilizations of the Fertile Crescent to the various cultures that have come and gone, such as the Egyptians, Hittites, Byzantines, and Ottomans.

Unfortunately, the recent civil war has not only caused immense human suffering but also poses severe risks to the region's heritage and archaeology.

In 2014, as the war raged, the team managed to rescue over 11,000 artifacts, representing some of the museum's most significant holdings. These items were transported to the city's airport and flown to Damascus, where they were placed in secure storage facilities. The following summer, in 2015, another major crisis struck as key archaeological sites were destroyed, including a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Syria.

In response, the DGAM took further action to evacuate all artifacts housed in museums within conflict zones, including Deir ez-Zor. This led to an additional batch of artifacts being moved to Damascus, ultimately bringing the total rescued artifacts to nearly 30,000.

Protecting culturally significant items during times of war and conflict is a challenging task, fraught with risks. In Palmyra, the head of antiquities faced public execution for refusing to disclose the location of hidden artifacts. While none of Abdulkarim's colleagues were injured during the museum evacuation missions, he acknowledged the risks and the personal difficulty of such endeavors.

The teams involved faced significant constraints, such as limited resources and time pressure. In the paper, Abdulkarim highlighted the adaptability and determination of the individuals involved, who employed creative solutions like using paper inventories when digital databases were not an option.

The mission's success demonstrates the critical importance of continuous risk assessment and swift action in protecting cultural heritage during times of turmoil. The team's efforts serve as a valuable lesson for heritage protection, highlighting the need for flexibility and immediate response in the face of imminent threats to priceless artifacts and sites.