Resources on the Cultural Crisis in the Near East

The scale of the human crisis in Syria has expanded and now involves Europe. Damage to archaeological and heritage sites also continues at an alarming rate. We present here a series of new and important links discussing the ongoing cultural disaster.

Reports and Analyses

Cultural Heritage Initiative Weekly Report 61–62 (September 30, 2015 – October 13, 2015), ASOR.
ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiative’s weekly review of damage to sites inside Syria.

Damage to Syria’s Heritage, 29 November 2015, Heritage for Peace.
A summary of news and links.

The Finance of Global Terrorism Through Cultural Property Crime in Syria and Northern Iraq
ASOR’s CHI director Michael Danti’s Congressional testimony.

Monumental Fight: Countering the Islamic State’s Antiquities Trafficking, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
A report on the Islamic State’s antiquities economy by a former CIA analyst and ANEToday’s editor.

The Cultural Heritage Crisis in the Middle East

Near Eastern Archaeology, Vol. 78, No. 3, September 2015
A special issue of ASOR’s Near Eastern Archaeology with articles on the crisis in Syria and Iraq.

News items

War, More Than ISIS, Is Destroying Syria’s Ancient Sites

Expert Panel Urges Passage of Bill Protecting Syrian Antiquities

Hollande proposes that Syrian antiquities be brought to France for safekeeping

Antiquities, looted from Syria’s Palmyra Museum, seized while for sale in eastern Turkey? No.

How the Islamic State makes its money

Culture and jihad, grimly connected through the art market’s “blood antiquities”

Syrian Antiquities Chief Calls For Help From International Community

The art detective fighting to save Syria’s past  

Multimedia

Is it too Late to Save Syria’s Antiquities?

CBC Radio,  ‘Who Owns Ancient Art? Part 1‘, (Listen to Full Episode 54:00‘). ‘Who Owns Ancient Art? Part 2‘, (Listen to Full Episode 53:59.)

Online resources

Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the University of Glasgow

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