Warnings of the destruction of archaeological sites in northern Syria

Aso-Lorraine Sabri

In a statement issued by the Culture and Art Authority in the self-management of northern and eastern Syria, many archaeological sites near the Syrian-Turkish border, starting from Dejla River to the Euphrates River (and the ruins of Sri Kaneh/Ras Al-Ain and Tel Halaf), Of these, 22 sites have been included in a list of very important sites, which are subject to encroachments and abuses due to Turkish military intervention in Syrian territory.

According to the Directorate of Antiquities in northern and eastern Syria, the following archaeological sites were shelled: Tal Jaroudia, Qasr Dib, Derona Qalinka, Tel Jehan, Tel Ziwan, Ataba, Perkins, Jutla, Hamdoun, Liloun, Al-Awashriya, Tel Arqam, Tal Hajeb and others sites are located on the border,In addition, the sites of Tal Halaf, Tal al-Fakhriyah, Tal Allouk and Tal Abyad were subjected to Turkish artillery shelling.

Rostom Abdo, deputy chairman of the joint presidency of the Culture and Art Authority in the self-management of northern and eastern Syria, told Aso News Network that Turkey’s shelling of the entire border, where archaeological sites are spread as Tal Halaf, Tel Shayer, Tel Fakhriyah, Tel Leyloun, Tel Sheikhani Under, Tel Sheikani Fawkani, Awashriyeh and Halunji, It may lead to destruction its and the looting of artefacts by anyone is a war crime.

The Syrian antiquities have been looted during the war years that plagued many of the artifacts that embody the identity of the Syrians and their history, which is a wealth for them.
Syrian antiquities in northern Syria were also looted when they were under ISIS.

The sources told Aso News Network that the Turkish occupation since the early days has been to hit the cultural and civilizational heritage in the region by bombing and trying to destroy historical and archaeological sites, which threatens to impoverish the region and deprive it of archaeological and tourist sites.

It is worth mentioning that Sri Kaneh / Ras Al-Ain and its villages have archaeological sites of international fame such as Tel Halaf and Tel Al-Fakhriyah, where German missions have already been carried out.

The Culture Authority fears that these sites, especially the excavated ones, may be preceded by secret excavations, in addition to the fear that some of them will be vandalized if used as military headquarters, as happened to some archaeological sites in Afrin as Janders region.

Abdo noted that within the areas controlled by the Turkish state and its affiliated factions there are sites where the Syrian missions have excavated in previous times as Tal Abyad, Tal Halaf, Fakhriyah, Khuwaira, Kharab Sayar, Al-Far, Hamam al Turkmen, and Al Far city, in addition to other sites For archaeological surveys by these missions.
Abdo pointed out that the protection of these monuments is the responsibility of all concerned international and local authorities and institutions concerned with the protection of heritage.

Abdo demanded the missions and universities that worked in these sites during the previous exploration seasons to exert enough effort to protect these sites from the encroachments that may happen to them, as happened in other regions in Syria such as Palmyra, Afrin and Idlib, and stop the loss for Syrians and the world.

Stressing that the cultural and historical demolition is global as a war crime for which the infringing state must held accountable.