CHI – Event – Protecting Our Shared Heritage in Syria An International Summit to Promote Collaboration

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EVENT:

PROTECTING OUT SHARED HERITAGE IN SYRIA AN INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT TO PROMOTE COLLABORATION

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U. S. DEPT. COOPERATION AGREEMENT NUMBER: S-IZ-100-17-CA021

Friday, December 11, 2015, 12:30PM – 2:30PM
Free and Open to the Public
The National Geographic Society
Grosvenor Auditorium, M Street Lobby
1145 17th St NW, Washington, DC[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″][vc_column_text]

Since 2011, the world has witnessed the destruction of cultural heritage and cultural warfare that has been unparalleled since World War II. The American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) and The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) have received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for a groundbreaking, international summit that will empower groups protecting cultural heritage in Syria and other conflict zones to work collaboratively and efficiently as they respond to imperiled sites and collections.

This open symposium features more than 20 international organizations who are meeting to discuss collaborative solutions to this crisis: AIA; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); The Antiquities Coalition; ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives; Computational Research of the Ancient Near East (CRANE, at the University of Toronto); CyArk; Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East & North Africa (EAMENA, at Oxford University); The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI); International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); Manar al-Athar; The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago; Penn Cultural Heritage Center; Shirin; The Smithsonian Institute; The Syrian Heritage Archive Project (a joint project of German Archaeological Institute and the Museum for Islamic Art, Berlin); The Day After Project; The Past For Sale Initiative at The University of Chicago; UNESCO; UNOSAT; United Nations Security Council; U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield; The World Monuments Fund (WMF); and Yale University.

* Funding for the two-day summit and this symposium has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) with additional assistance from the Council for American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC), and The Rust Family Foundation. Indirect support has been provided by the NEH, the National Geographic Society, AIA, and ASOR.

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Overview

On December 10-11, 2015, representatives from 19 international groups involved in protecting the cultural heritage of Syria and other zones of conflict met in Washington, DC to identify ways in which they could collaborate to maximize their efforts. This meeting, titled Seeking Collaboration: A Summit for Projects Collecting Cultural Heritage Data in Syria and Conflict Zones was co-organized by the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR), (Dr. Andrew Vaughn, Executive Director), and the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), (Dr. Ann Benbow, Executive Director). The Summit was sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), (Dr. Sarah Lepinski, Program Officer) which provided grant monies, meeting space, and logistical support; the Rust Family Foundation (Dr. Michele Miller, Program Officer) which provided travel grants; the National Geographic Society (NGS), (Dr. Christopher Thornton, Senior Director, NGS Cultural Heritage Initiatives) which provided meeting space and logistical support; and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC), (Dr. Christopher Tuttle, Executive Director) which sponsored the event’s group dinner.

Rationale

Protection of cultural heritage in Syria and other zones of conflict is, and will continue to be, an urgent matter. Every day, sites and buildings in Syria and other conflict areas are being damaged or destroyed by conflict, looting, and terrorism. Dozens of non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations have responded to this crisis, and some of them have received significant funding from European countries, Canada, UNESCO, and the United States. Just in the latter half of 2015, cultural heritage conferences held at the Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Asia Society have called for all working on this problem to find ways to achieve both greater collaboration and a division of labor. The goal of this Summit was to move projects closer to achieving these aims.

Participating Organizations

Organizations sending representatives to the Summit included: AIA; the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); The Antiquities Coalition; ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives; Computational Research of the Ancient Near East (CRANE) at the University of Toronto; CyArk; Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East & North Africa (EAMENA) at Oxford University; The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI); International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); Manar al-Athar; National Science Foundation (NSF); The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago; Penn Cultural Heritage Center; Shirin; the Smithsonian Institution; The Syrian Heritage Archive Project (a joint project of the German Archaeological Institute and the Museum for Islamic Art, Berlin); The Day After Project; The Past For Sale Initiative at The University of Chicago; UNESCO; UNOSAT; United Nations Security Council; U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield; the World Monuments Fund (WMF); and Yale University.

Summit Format

The first day of the Summit was a closed session hosted by NEH at their offices. Participants, who were welcomed by Dr. Peggy Plympton, NEH Deputy Chairwoman, met in both large group and breakout sessions to describe their projects, discuss principles of collaboration, and identify specific ways in which they could work together. Thomas Barritt of Ketchum Communications moderated the whole group sessions. Breakout groups were moderated by Dr. Susan Ackerman, Dr. Andrew Moore, Dr. Laetitia La Follette, Dr. Ann Benbow, and Mr. Colin Mably. The second day of the meeting was hosted by NGS at their facility in downtown Washington. Participants met to finalize discussions from the day before, agree on the principles of collaboration, and discuss next steps for the initiative. This session was followed by a panel of representatives from grant-making organizations, each of whom described the type of support available for cultural heritage protection initiatives. Panelists included Dr. Sarah Lepinski (NEH); Dr. John Yellen (NSF); Dr. John Francis (NGS); Dr. Ben Jeffs (WMF); and Dr. Paul Rissman (private philanthropist).

This closed morning session was followed by a public event in the Grosvenor Auditorium at NGS. Dr. Christopher Thornton, Senior Director, Cultural Heritage Initiative, NGS, served as master of ceremonies. The event, which attracted approximately 150 attendees, began at 12:30 PM with a welcome by Dr. Susan Ackerman, President of ASOR. This was followed by a second welcome from Mr. Gary Knell, Chief Executive Officer of NGS, who introduced Mr. Phillipp Ackermann, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. Mr. Ackermann announced a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) between ASOR and the cultural heritage projects led by the German Archaeological Institute and the Museum for Islamic Art, Berlin. The announcement was followed by remarks from Mr. Mark Taplin, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and finally from Dr. William Adams, Chairman of NEH.

After Chairman Adams spoke, Dr. Thornton hosted a lightning round for representatives of the 19 groups. Each group had three minutes to describe its project and point out possible areas of collaboration. The lightning round was followed by reflections and observations from three Syrian archaeologists attending the Summit: Dr. Samir Abdulac, ICOMOS; Dr. Salam Al Kuntar, Penn Cultural Heritage Center; and Dr. Amr Al-Azm, Shawnee State University and The Day After Project. Dr. Andrew Moore, President of the AIA, thanked the participants and all who attended the open session. Dr. Adams then offered his thoughts on the conference, and the open session adjourned. The session was video-recorded and will be available on the web sites of ASOR and the AIA.

Summit Outcomes

A. Principles of Collaboration for Syrian Cultural Heritage Projects

Representatives of the organizations attending the conference unanimously agreed to abide by this set of principles:

We have undertaken our respective projects because we care deeply for the people of Syria. We work with Syrians to protect and preserve their cultural heritage, which is the shared heritage of all humankind. For the purposes of this set of principles, we are concerned with tangible and intangible cultural heritage defined in broad terms—including, but not limited to, museums, sites, urban heritage, landscapes, artifacts, music, art, language, religious practices, collections, libraries, archives, ethnographic materials, and historic structures and monuments.
We are committed to active dialogue that will lead to a series of collaborative initiatives, as appropriate within the mission of each organization, so that all of our projects can better achieve their common goals in order to maximize our collective effort.
We agree to share explanations of our projects (e.g., goals, objectives, descriptions of metadata or datasets, experts, advice, timelines, action priorities, and other information as appropriate), with the aim of fostering better coordination of efforts and better division of labor, as appropriate to the goals and mission of each project and organization.
We agree to be vigilant and proactive in our work by exploring practical activities that will facilitate sharing and maximizing impact. To facilitate sharing and discussion, we agree to explore a variety of practical approaches. These may include (but are not limited to) the following: memoranda of understanding (MoUs); secure websites to share ideas and updates; shared digital platforms and the use of common data standards; a secure list-serve covering topics of importance to our experts; calendars of events and symposia on related topics, and fundraising for collaborative projects.
To facilitate the above, we will meet for regular communication updates. Such meetings may be by periodic conference calls, virtual meetings online, or (as funding allows) in-person meetings. Because this is truly a crisis, we will agree upon target dates for furthering the objectives articulated above and for sharing our progress publicly, as appropriate to the mission and goals of each project and organization.

Both the AIA and ASOR will work with the groups to facilitate their collaborative efforts.

B. Breakout Group Discussion Summary

1. As a practical step toward collaboration, groups suggested the establishment of a secure web site with:

Contact information for participants
Project grid (includes project descriptions; type – geospatial, capacity-building, etc.; goals; base of operations). The grid will help to identify areas where projects overlap.
Database of all projects working in this area (not just those represented at the Summit)
Database of rules and regulations controlling data sharing
Forum for exchange of ideas
Calendar of opportunities to meet and promote projects

The conference co-organizers will seek support for this secure, web-based interface, which will launch early in 2016.

2. Participants also agreed to look actively for such collaborative opportunities as:

Sharing data, as safe and appropriate
Viewing and vetting others’ data
Using the same data management platform and the same standards for data collection
Sharing best practices
Sharing experts
Providing training in data standards
Helping the people of Syria and other conflict zones who work on the ground
Developing models that protect cultural heritage in any conflict zones.

3. Groups recognized the need to prioritize. These were some key questions that arose:

How can project data help law enforcement to stop trafficking in illicit antiquities?
How can our projects help the people in Syria and other conflict zones who are working on the ground?
What areas are most at risk for attack and destruction? How can our projects help to protect these areas?

The web interface described in 1 above, and the Cooperation Mini-grants described in C below will help to facilitate such collaborative efforts.

4. Finally, groups agreed that it was important to let others in the world know about their work. Some ideas for this included:

Conference presentations and workshops
Articles
Promote on web sites and social media
Dispatches section in Archaeology Magazine (AIA)

C. Cooperation Grants

There is a pool of $40,000 available for mini-grants to enable collaborating groups to meet and plan ($25,000 from an anonymous donor and $15,000 from NGS). The Summit organizers have developed a request for proposals for these grants, which will be released early in 2016. The organizers will also seek additional funds for Cooperation Grants.

Summit Attendees

Abdulac, Samir
ICOMOS

Ackerman, Susan
ASOR

al-Azm, Amr
Shawnee State University; The Day After

Al Kuntar, Salam
Penn Cultural Heritage Center

Alrez, Wassim
Syrian Heritage Archive Project

Anderson, Kaitlynn
ASOR

Aroaz, Gustavo
ICOMOS

Assis, Phillip
U.S. Department of State

Avramides, Ioannis
World Monuments Fund

Barritt, Thomas
Ketchum Communications

Benbow, Ann
AIA

Bewley, Robert
EAMENA (Oxford)

Bloch, Franziska
Syrian Heritage Archive Project

Branting, Scott
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives

Cohen, Andrew
U.S. Department of State

Daniels, Brian
Penn Cultural Heritage Center

Danti, Michael
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives

Davis, Tess
Antiquities Coalition

Fiol, Manuel
UNOSAT

Gerstenblith, Patty
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield

Greene, Joseph
Manar al-Athar

Greenland, Fiona
Oriental Institute, University of Chicago

Harrison, Timothy
CRANE (University of Toronto)

Jeffs, Ben
World Monuments Fund

Kühne, Hartmut
Shirin

Kurin, Richard
Smithsonian Institution

LaFollete, Laetitia
AIA

Lee, Elizabeth
CyArk

Lepinski, Sarah
NEH

Leventhal, Richard
Penn Cultural Heritage Center

Mably, Colin
AIA

Macdonald, Susan
Getty Conservation Institute

McCarthy, Blythe
U.S. Department of State

Menegazzi, Cristina
UNESCO

Miller, Brandt
National Geographic Society

Moore, Andrew
AIA

Myers, David
Getty Conservation Institute

Philip, Grahamd
Shirin

Rothfield, Lawrence
Past for Sale Initiative at Univ. of Chicago

Rowan, Yorke
Oriental Institute, University of Chicago

Schindler, Hans-Jakob
United Nations Security Council

Simon, Stefan
Yale University

Teutonico, Jeanne Marie
Getty Conservation Institute

Thornton, Christopher
National Geographic Society

Tuttle, Chris
CAORC

Valtchanova, Lily
UNESCO

Vaughn, Andrew
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives

Wegener, Cori
Smithsonian Institution

Wilkie, Nancy
U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield

Wolfinbarger, Susan
AAAS

Contact Information

Todd Nielsen, Ph.D., AIA Executive Director: todd@studytours.org

Andrew Vaughn, Ph.D., ASOR Executive Director: info@asor.org

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CHI – Press Release – Planning for Safeguarding Heritage Sites in Syria

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PRESS RELEASES:

PLANNING FOR SAFEGUARDING HERITAGE IN SYRIA

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U. S. DEPT. COOPERATION AGREEMENT NUMBER: S-IZ-100-17-CA021

ASOR Media Note—For Immediate Release[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″][vc_column_text]On August 4, 2014, the U.S. Department of State and the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) signed a $600,000 cooperative agreement to document comprehensively the current condition of cultural heritage sites in Syria and assess future restoration, preservation, and protection needs. ASOR’s documentation and planning will raise global awareness of the threats to Syria’s cultural heritage and identify immediate or future projects and assistance that can be carried out and provided inside Syria. ASOR’s Syrian Heritage Initiative—Planning for Safeguarding Heritage Sites in Syria is led by five co-directors / co-principal investigators: Scott Branting (ASOR), Jesse Casana (University of Arkansas), Michael Danti (Boston University and ASOR), Abdal-Razzaq Moaz (Indiana University and ASOR), and Andrew Vaughn (ASOR). LeeAnn Barnes Gordon (ASOR) serves as Project Manager for Conservation and Heritage Preservation. The international team also includes more than 30 additional scholars and specialists who will serve as co-investigators, consultants, or advisors.

The United States is committed to protecting cultural heritage from pillage, looting, and illicit trafficking around the world, and this cooperative agreement is part of a larger U.S. Department of State effort to preserve Syria’s historic sites and treasures. The destruction of Syria’s rich heritage risks losing a cultural legacy of universal importance and jeopardizes the role it can play in post-conflict reconciliation and economic revitalization efforts. To learn more about the State Department’s efforts to protect Syria’s culture heritage, please visit http://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center/syria-cultural-heritage-initiative.
ASOR, founded in 1900 and currently located at Boston University, is the preeminent organization of archaeologists and historians who initiate, encourage and support research into, and public understanding of, the cultures and history of the Near East. This cooperative agreement is jointly managed by ASOR (www.asor.org) and the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the Cultural Heritage Center of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). For further information, please contact ECA’s Office of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications ECA-Press@state.gov or ASOR’s executive office (info@asor.org).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

CHI – Press Release – J.M. Kaplan Fund awards ASOR $57,000 to expand its Syrian Heritage Initiative

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PRESS RELEASES:

J.M. KAPLAN FUND AWARDS ASOR $57,000 TO EXPAND ITS SYRIAN HERITAGE INITIATIVE

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U. S. DEPT. COOPERATION AGREEMENT NUMBER: S-IZ-100-17-CA021

ASOR Media Note—For Immediate Release
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives
February 3, 2015[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″][vc_column_text]

On January 13, 2015, the J.M. Kaplan Fund awarded the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) $57,000 to expand its Syrian Heritage Initiative. The project is part of a $756,000 cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State to document, protect, and preserve the cultural heritage of war-torn Syria. The Kaplan funding will allow for an expansion in the scope and impact of the project in the areas of preservation planning and training.

Syria is a land of exceptional cultural heritage. Its art, architecture, languages, and religions have been shaped by the region’s major cultures, from the Hittites to the Ottomans, and further enriched by the legacy of its caravan routes connecting empires from China to the Mediterranean. Six Syrian cultural properties are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and another eleven properties are on UNESCO’s Tentative List. As of 2013, all six of the World Heritage Sites have been placed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage In Danger. National and international bodies, including the Syrian Government and UNESCO, have called on the international community to engage in immediate actions to safeguard Syrian cultural heritage.

The ASOR Syrian Heritage Initiative is a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State that was instituted to address this cultural crisis. The project has three primary goals:
1) To produce comprehensive documentation of damage
2) To increase global awareness of the ongoing crisis
3) To plan emergency and post-war responses

In carrying out this work, ASOR has assembled an international team with combined expertise in conservation, risk preparedness, and cultural heritage management, as well as extensive experience working in areas of armed conflict. The Kaplan Grant will increase the capacity of ASOR contractors working in the Preservation Unit and thereby expand the activities in the third area listed above — emergency and post-war responses. Specific activities that will be supported include high-level input and feedback from international experts on documentation, emergency protection, condition assessment, and preservation issues, and in-depth planning for post-conflict documentation and large-scale mitigation projects.

The current threat to Syria’s heritage is real and could lead to the loss of irreplaceable cultural resources on a massive scale. The support from the J.M. Kaplan Fund will dramatically increase the impact of the ASOR-led international team in fighting against such an outcome.

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ASOR, founded in 1900 and currently located in Alexandria, Virginia, is a non-profit organization that supports and encourages the study of the cultures and history of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present. ASOR is apolitical and has no religious affiliation. For further information, please contact ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives office (info@asor.org).

The mission of the J.M. Kaplan Fund is to search for the realization of an ideal society. For almost 70 years, the J.M. Kaplan fund has supported efforts to achieve this goal by providing leadership in the fields of the environment, migrations, historic preservation, and civic life.

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CHI – Press Release – AIA and ASOR Receive NEH Chairman’s Grant To Support a Cultural Heritage Summit

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PRESS RELEASES:

AIA & ASOR RECEIVE NEH CHAIRMAN’S GRANT TO SUPPORT A CULTURAL HERITAGE SUMMIT

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U. S. DEPT. COOPERATION AGREEMENT NUMBER: S-IZ-100-17-CA021

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The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) and American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) announced today that they have jointly received a Chairman’s Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support a two-day invitational summit in Washington, D.C., on December 10–11, 2015. During the summit, representatives from organizations engaged in collecting data on the cultural heritage of Syria will agree upon ways to cooperate and reduce duplication of effort. NEH Chairman William “Bro” Adams will be in attendance for the public event to be held on Friday, December 11, at the National Geographic Society.

This is an urgent matter. Every day, sites and buildings in Syria are being damaged or destroyed by conflict, looting, and terrorism. Moreover, industrial-scale looting has resulted in the theft of artifacts that are then sold to support ISIL and other terrorist groups. Dozens of non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations have responded to this crisis, and some of them have received significant funding from European countries, Canada, UNESCO, and the United States. In just the past three weeks, cultural heritage conferences held at the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Asia Society have called for all working on this problem to find ways to achieve a division of labor and greater collaboration. The goal of this summit is to do just that. ASOR and the AIA are pleased that NEH Chairman Adams has responded to this need by sponsoring this conference and agreeing to participate.

Details on the summit and the public symposium to be held at the National Geographic Society on Friday, December 11, will be announced in the coming weeks. For further information, please contact ASOR at 703-789-9229 or info@asor.org or the AIA at 857-305-9350 or malin@archaeology.org.

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CHI – Announcements – ASOR Undertakes Humanitarian Heritage Work in Idlib Governorate

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ASOR UNDERTAKES HUMANITARIAN HERITAGE WORK IN LBLIB GOVERNORATE

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U. S. DEPT. COOPERATION AGREEMENT NUMBER: S-IZ-100-17-CA021

Work Has Begun with Half of the Funding Secured—$5,000 in Matching Funds Sought[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]* This report is based on research conducted by the “Safeguarding the Heritage of the Near East Initiative,” funded by the US Department of State. Monthly reports reflect reporting from a variety of sources and may contain unverified material. As such, they should be treated as preliminary and subject to change.[/vc_column_text][mk_divider thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][mk_image src=”http://www.asor.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Idlib-Governorate-1.jpg” image_width=”1200″ image_height=”1084″ crop=”false” hover=”false” align=”center” margin_bottom=”20″][mk_padding_divider size=”30″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

Idlib Governorate has been particularly hard-hit over the last six years of the Syrian conflict, and the region and its people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Basic humanitarian assistance in the form of food, housing, and medical supplies is of course critical, but humanitarian assistance in the form of cultural heritage support is also needed as part of collective relief efforts. Such cultural aid not only demonstrates the concern and compassion of the international community towards the Syrian people and their collective cultural identity, but also provides much-needed jobs and income to people whose former livelihoods have become unsuitable during this conflict.

Aerial bombardment campaigns by both Syrian regime and Russian forces have devastated dozens of towns and villages throughout the province. Most recently, the town of Khan Sheikhoun was targeted in a chemical weapons attack that killed 92 people, including civilians and 30 children. ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives has also gathered information on 116 cultural heritage sites in Idlib Governorate that have been damaged as a direct result of instability and ongoing fighting in the area. As the conflict continues local Syrians have fought to protect and preserve the countries multitudes of heritage sites.

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The Al Ma’ara Museum (aka Murad Pasha Caravansary) is comprised of four sections with cross beamed ceilings connected by arched hallways to service facilities. A mosque and a restaurant are found in the center, and a marketplace, a bathhouse, a bakery, grains storage area, and a water station that supplies the whole facility are on the west side. The caravansary was converted into a museum to preserve and display the historically significant collections of mosaics from dead cities.

The museum sustained heavy damage after being targeted with airstrikes in June 2015 and May 2016. The heaviest damage was in the bathhouse area of the caravansary and in what is known as the ‘fourth wing’ on the west side of the site. Site monitors from the Heritage Preservation Center, in conjunction with The Day After – Heritage Protection Initiative (TDA-HPI), conducted a physical assessment of the site and documented structural damage. Site monitors noted that the right/east wall of the hallway leading to the lavatories (modern era) had deviated by 32cm. Severe damage due to weather erosion and heavy snow fall was also noted. As a result of the site visit, the Heritage Preservation Center and TDA-HPI recommended that urgent repairs take place.

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Damage from the June 2015 Airstrike (TDA-HPI; 2015)

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Damage from the June 2015 Airstrike (TDA-HPI; 2015)

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The Al Ma’ara Museum has been repeatedly damaged during the almost six-year long conflict. On March 1, 2014 DGAM released a report on the site. According to the report, opposition forces were using the site as a military settlement. That occupation caused minor damage to the site. In August 2014, the Smithsonian Newsroom published a photograph showing gunfire damage to a 6th century CE mosaic located in the museum.

On June 16, 2015 ASOR CHI sources reported that a Syrian regime helicopter dropped a barrel bomb onto the museum on the evening of June 15, 2015, causing massive destruction. The damage included collapsed domes, ceilings, and walls.

Then on May 9, 2016 ASOR CHI sources again reported that Syrian regime airstrikes had struck the museum for a second time. This second strike caused severe damage, particularly in the bathhouse area. Mosaics covered in previous preservation efforts were covered in rubble. The exterior of the northwestern wall, which separated the Khan from the bathhouse, collapsed into the narrow corridor.

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Damage from the June 2015 Airstrike (TDA-HPI; 2015)

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Damage from May 2016 Airstrike (TDA-HPI; 2016)

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Wall prior to deviation

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Deviated wall with temporary reinforcement

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In March 2016, efforts were undertaken to protect the thousands of square meters of mosaics located at the Murad Pasha Caravansary. On March 1, 2016 volunteers began to remove debris from the wings of the museum; volunteers used a trained eye to sort between debris and antiquities. Archaeologists from the Syrian Heritage Center aided in the collecting of pieces of pottery left in the debris. The pottery was later moved to the second wing of the museum for preservation. Mosaics damaged by the airstrike were moved to the first wing and sandbagged for protection. Column capitals were also relocated into the wings of the museum. The rest of the antiquities on display in the museum halls were moved inside the wings of the site.

The mosque and takia, located within the caravansary, were thoroughly cleaned, the religious books located within sorted and stored. In addition, the roof, courtyards, takia, and the rest of the caravansary were swept in anticipation for the next phase of work.

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Sandbags Protect the Mosaics (TDA-HPI; March 2016)

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Sandbags Protect the Mosaics (TDA-HPI; March 2016)

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Unfortunately, as long as this conflict in Syria continues, cultural heritage will be under threat. It may feel like a hopeless situation, but there are organizations like ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives that are working hard to document cultural heritage damage and help Syrians and Iraqis to protect and preserve their heritage. The loss of these cultural sites is a symptom of the humanitarian crisis. This conflict is not only displacing and endangering populations, but, through the loss of cultural heritage, it is taking away an important part of their identity from before the war as well as their connection with the generations that have long gone.

Any transition process that aims to bring Syrians together and assist them in working towards ending the bloodshed and rebuilding their shattered country, needs to identify where common denominators exist between the opposing sides and provide mechanisms that will help them work towards consensus. With that in mind, ASOR and TDA-HDI believe that cultural heritage has a critical role in enhancing this Syrian identity and helping steer Syria on its path towards post conflict stabilization and reconciliation.

Once the current violence ends, the people of Syria will need to find ways to reconnect with the symbols that once united them across religious and political lines. The importance of this cultural heritage is nowhere more demonstrable than when it comes to the issue of national identity and what makes a Syrian a Syrian. Syria has a resilient sense of identity based on the concept of a shared citizenship around a common history and supported by a long and rich cultural heritage. The country’s ancient past as represented in this rich cultural heritage will be key to this. Protecting and preserving Syria’s history and heritage therefore is about safeguarding its future too.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][mk_image src=”http://www.asor.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Idlib-Governorate-10.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”1273″ crop=”false” hover=”false” align=”center” margin_bottom=”20″][vc_column_text]

Workers move mosaics inside the museum (TDA-HPI; March 2016)

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What is a Caravansary?

A caravansary (caravanserai) is a site at which caravans would have lodged during their journeys. The caravansaries or inns were generally rectangular in form with an open courtyard central to the inn. Lodgings surrounded the open courtyard where animals, including between 300 and 400 camels, were housed; camels, as load-bearing animals, were critical to traveling caravans. Such sites were critical for trade routes that crisscrossed Asia, North Africa, and parts of Europe and were widely utilized along the former Silk Road, and ancient Royal Road. Caravansarys were often located on the outskirts of towns and villages.

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Courtyard of the Sultanhanı caravansary (13th century) Kayseri, Tur (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

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ASOR in partnership with TDA-HPI is currently raising funds for emergency mitigation efforts to occur at the Khan As’ad Pacha (ca. 1753), a museum complex located near the Al Ma’ara Museum. Ongoing aerial bombardment over the course of the Syrian conflict has heavily damaged the the site. TDA-HPI plans to develop an emergency intervention study to assess the damage. Using that study, and similar methodology featured in rehabilitation efforts at Al Ma’ara Museum, TDA-HPI hopes to restore the Khan As’ad Pacha. You can help support these efforts by clicking on the ‘Donate Here’ button seen below. Your generous contribution will help to restore this historic site for future generations of Syrians.

Other ways you can donate:

Donate by Phone

Call ASOR at: 703-789-9229

Donate by Mail
American Schools of Oriental Research
209 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

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CHI – Press Releases

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Press Releases

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May 2017

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]The American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) is pleased to announce a new $900,000 cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of State and ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives (ASOR CHI): “Safeguarding the Heritage of the Near East Initiative Collaborative Service Award.” The project continues the strong partnership between ASOR and the U.S. Department of State to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of Syria and Iraq, and to extend the scope of work to include the preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of Libya. The new cooperative agreement also includes increased support for in-country projects that connect local communities to historic places and heritage.

View press release

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October 2015

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) is pleased to announce that, with a $900,000 extension to our previous one-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State, the ASOR Syrian Heritage Initiative team will be able to continue its work of documenting comprehensively the current condition of cultural heritage sites in Syria and portions of Iraq and to assess future restoration, preservation, and protection needs.

View press release[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″ margin_top=”10″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1568646645218{padding-right: 20px !important;}”][mk_padding_divider size=”25″][vc_column_text]

October 8, 2015

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) and American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) announced today that they have jointly received a Chairman’s Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support a two-day invitational summit in Washington, D.C., on December 10–11, 2015. During the summit, representatives from organizations engaged in collecting data on the cultural heritage of Syria will agree upon ways to cooperate and reduce duplication of effort. NEH Chairman William “Bro” Adams will be in attendance for the public event to be held on Friday, December 11, at the National Geographic Society.

September 21, 2015

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]U.S. Department of State, the ASOR Syrian Heritage Initiative team will be able to continue its work of documenting comprehensively the current condition of cultural heritage sites in Syria and portions of Iraq and to assess future restoration, preservation, and protection needs. Now known as ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives—Planning for Safeguarding Heritage Sites in Syria and Iraq, this program will continue to raise global awareness of the threats to cultural heritage while also implementing future projects and providing immediate assistance within the region.

View press release

February 3, 2015

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]J.M. Kaplan Fund awards ASOR $57,000 to expand its Syrian Heritage Initiative. On January 13, 2015, the J.M. Kaplan Fund awarded the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) $57,000 to expand its Syrian Heritage Initiative.

View press release

November 17, 2014

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Syrian Heritage Initiative Symposium. Non-profit and Department of State to Host Symposium on Syrian Cultural Heritage, San Diego, CA (November 23, 2014).

Download PDF of press release

November 13, 2014

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]The Renaissance of Archaeology in Iraq. Harvard Professor to be Keynote Speaker at Near Eastern Archaeology Conference, San Diego, CA (November 19, 2014).

Download PDF of press release

September 23, 2014

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Threats to Cultural Heritage in Iraq and Syria. Office of the Spokesperson, Washington, DC.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/09/232028.htm

September 22, 2014

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Remarks at Threats to Cultural Heritage in Iraq and Syria Event. Remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

ttps://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/09/232028.htm

September 21, 2014

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Threats to Cultural Heritage in Iraq and Syria. Jen Psaki, Department Spokesperson, Washington, DC.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/09/231912.htm

August 4, 2014

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Initial project announcement. Syrian Heritage Initiative: Planning for Safeguarding Heritage Sites in Syria

ASOR announcement | US DoS Press release

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CHI – Press Release – ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives: Safeguarding the Heritage of the Near East Initiative Collaborative Service Award

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PRESS RELEASES:

SAFEGUARDING THE HERITAGE OF THE NEAR EAST INITIATIVE COLLABORATIVE SERVICE AWARD

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U. S. DEPT. COOPERATION AGREEMENT NUMBER: S-IZ-100-17-CA021

ASOR Media Note—For Immediate Release[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″][vc_column_text]

The American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) is pleased to announce a new $900,000 cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of State and ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives (ASOR CHI): “Safeguarding the Heritage of the Near East Initiative Collaborative Service Award.” The project continues the strong partnership between ASOR and the U.S. Department of State to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of Syria and Iraq, and to extend the scope of work to include the preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of Libya. The new cooperative agreement also includes increased support for in-country projects that connect local communities to historic places and heritage.

ASOR, founded in 1900, is the preeminent organization of archaeologists, historians, linguists, and cultural heritage professionals who initiate, encourage, and support research into, and public understanding of, the cultures and history of the Near East and wider Mediterranean. As ASOR’s President, Susan Ackerman (Dartmouth College) observed, “The work of ASOR CHI is a fundamental part of ASOR’s mission, and we are very pleased to begin another year partnering with the Department of State to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of Iraq, Syria, and now Libya. We are proud to be able to do all we can on behalf of these countries’ cultural heritage and on behalf of their citizens, whose identity is supported and sustained in these war-torn times by the rich cultural legacies of their homelands.”

ASOR CHI is lead by four principal investigators: Michael Danti (ASOR Academic Director), Andrew Vaughn (ASOR Executive Director), Scott Branting (University of Central Florida), and Susan Kane (Oberlin College). Marina Gabriel, Susan Penacho, and Will Raynolds serve as Project Managers. The international team also includes 15 eminent specialists who have agreed to donate more than 600 hours of expert time over the course of the twelve-month project.

Since ASOR CHI’s work began, in August 2014, the Cultural Heritage Initiatives team has carried out three emergency response initiatives in Syria and produced over 1,000 reports on the cultural heritage situation in Syria and northern Iraq. In addition, ASOR CHI inventoried 13,000 sites in Syria and northern Iraq, conducted 9,000 satellite assessments, completed 750 detailed condition assessments, made 4,150 heritage observations, and compiled 10,000 archived media entries on cultural heritage incidents and assets. All of these data have been used to assist local cultural heritage experts in emergency response efforts and to help combat the trafficking of illicit antiquities by terrorists. The incident reports and special reports have affected U.S. policy and law and are posted online.

ASOR CHI’s work is a prime example of how and why the humanities and social sciences are a critical component in the international effort to fight terrorism. Pauline Yu, President of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), stated, “I commend the scholars of ASOR for applying their deep expertise to this urgent need. The destruction and looting of ancient monuments and artifacts deprives not just the suffering people in conflict zones of their priceless cultural heritage, but all the world’s people. ASOR’s work is a splendid demonstration of humanities scholarship in the service of humanity.” William Adams, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, added, “NEH is pleased that ASOR continues to document the destruction of antiquities in the Middle East and that the training of cultural heritage professionals in the region continues to be a priority. NEH shares and supports ASOR’s commitment to preserving this heritage.”

The United States is committed to protecting cultural heritage from pillage, looting, and illicit trafficking around the world, and the cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of State and ASOR is part of a larger U.S. Department of State effort to preserve the historic sites and treasures in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. To learn more about the State Department’s efforts to protect the cultural heritage of Syria, Iraq, and Libya, please visit http://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center.

The cooperative agreement between ASOR and the U.S. Department of State is jointly managed by ASOR (www.asor.org) and the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the Cultural Heritage Center of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). For further information, please contact ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives office (info@asor.org).

Learn more at ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives website.

Download PDF version of this media note HERE

The American Schools of Oriental Research
656 Beacon Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02215
E-mail: info@asor.org
Telephone: 617-353-6570

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CHI – LECTURES – Remarks on ASOR CHI’s Cultural Heritage Monitor

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LECTURES: REMARKS ON ASOR CHI’S CULTURAL HERITAGE MONITOR

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U. S. DEPT. COOPERATION AGREEMENT NUMBER: S-IZ-100-17-CA021

The following talk was given by ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives team member, Bisher Alissa, at The George Washington University’s Elliott School on April 17, 2016 [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″][vc_column_text]

It is often said the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. In the case of the preservation of cultural heritage the line is always between us and the community, not only because they are the beneficiaries and owners of their cultural assets but also because they are the sphere/equator that keeps these assets resilient and alive.

Cultural Heritage Monitor has set up this open call in order to engage Syrians and Iraqis, and give them a voice in safeguarding their cultural heritage.

In order to evaluate the CHM initiative, it’s important to look at the subject of cultural heritage in these countries from a bit of a historical perspective.

The nature of the political regimes in Syria and in Iraq is well known; regimes who rely on repressing community and individual identity in favor of a totalitarian ideology. An ideology which is so embedded in the system, in schools, newspapers, NGOS, etc. The subject of cultural heritage is also limited to promoting national propaganda.

Syria is a society of 22 different ethnic and cultural groups, speaking 8 different languages,
with a history of coexistence and great cultural achievements. Unfortunately this legacy has been used to create division rather than nurture community. Under the title of Arabization, the Baathists overlooked ethnic or cultural identity leaving Syrians and Iraqis without a voice for over 40 years.

We see this now with ISIL as they strive to confiscate the entire region’s heritage and consolidate it under one single interpretation of Islam that comes from the 8th century.
The systematic destruction by ISIL in Syria and Iraq is an exaggerated example of what the Baath party had already been doing.

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In 1982, the Syrian regime’s brutal attack on Hama left over 70% of the medieval city destroyed. Until now maps of the old city are considered classified. Sharing photos or information about the destroyed monuments will put you at risk of being jailed for weakening “national identity”. Later the redevelopment of the city’s former heritage center included a bizarre five star hotel surrounded by a large park. This is one of many examples of how the destruction of cultural heritage is not limited to terrorist groups but to any totalitarian regime acting above the law of human rights.

In looking at this recent history and the present atrocities of ISIL, it leaves us with the question of how are we going to give these people back their voice? How are we going to contribute to building the community identity? How are we going to create a resilient cultural heritage?

Many of the answers lay in what cultural heritage monitor is now hoping to achieve as an added value.

Over the last 3 years we’ve seen international organizations focused on cultural heritage build intervention plans on the basis of a post-conflict scenario. Instead this project has not delayed. They are getting their hands dirty now in the short term and taking it to the people on the ground. This is essential work.

By adopting a community development approach, CHM has moved from the initial documentation phase of cultural properties towards creating a long-term partnership and engagement with the Syrians and Iraqis in the process of preserving them.

CHM is act now vs. act later. There’s no doubt that both Syrians and the Iraqi people will be more in favor of “acting now” and engaging with the people through their existing social networks, particularly for those who are still inside the country.

This offers a window of opportunity and of hope; that there is somebody not only paying attention to their humanitarian and cultural crises but acting on them today.

The second point links to the aspirations of the cultural heritage monitor. For the first time, people are being given a voice to speak about their own cultural heritage, regardless their ethnicity or religion, and being recognized and acknowledged in this regard.

Tell them your voice is important, you are a partner in this effort, that your choice to stay and not become a refugee is important. And most important, tell them this whole effort is dedicated to you and is going to be handed to you.

Giving the people a voice and a stake in their cultural heritage will result in increasing community resilience toward both atrocities of the regime and ISIL. It will inspire a sense of ownership and pride and contribute to building a resilient cultural heritage in the future.

The crisis has dismantled the social and cultural fabric of the Syrian society. Every day we see more polarization of political views. The subject of cultural heritage is probably one of the last remaining elements which can be used now and post-conflict to unite people over a shared interest and bridge these differences.

However this needs to be managed carefully so that old norms aren’t re-established and cultural heritage is used as part of political propaganda as we see happening right now in the northeast of Syria between the Kurds and other minority groups. It should also not serve as a vessel to undermine the community and to invite further foreign military intervention in Syria such as what we now see happening in Palmyra. If we want to build a resilient society and a resilient cultural heritage, it has to represent the voice of a people and to celebrate their togetherness and diversity and, most importantly, their engagement in preserving it.

This is just a milestone in a long-term approach where the overall evaluation of the project will depend upon the degree of community engagement. Over the course of this period your continuous support and positive feedback is essential.

Other initiatives by Bisher Alissa

Current work on producing databases of inventory of Syrian museums by using previously collected information and data from 15 years of frequent field visits to these sites. The objective is to fill the obvious gap in the “in country” records and to raise awareness among the Syrian public about their shared heritage.
Work on mapping the locations of cultural property assets inside of Syria; a collaborative activity with other Syrian academics, scholars and activists who are located both in and outside of Syria.
Advocate for community engagement and their right to protect their cultural property in order to build a resilient cultural heritage

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CHI – Lectures

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