BIBLIOGRAPHIES

In order to understand fully the damage that has occurred to Syrian cultural heritage sites, it is important to obtain a comprehensive understanding of these sites prior to the civil conflict that began in 2011. Academic publications, excavation reports, archaeological surveys, and damage assessments are just some of the many sources that can paint a broad picture of pre-conflict cultural heritage in Syria, which in turn proves instrumental to our documentation efforts and preservation planning. Below you will find a series of bibliographies that contain both published and unpublished works in a variety of languages, including English, Arabic, French, German, and Italian, among others. We encourage you to seek out these sources and to learn more about the cultural heritage that is currently at risk.

Bibliographies by Topic

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CHI – Resources

RESOURCES

Initiated in 2014, ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives (ASOR CHI) is an international collaboration of scholars and institutions who work under the auspices of ASOR. Through two cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of State and with the generous support of non-federal organizations and donors (especially the Getty Conservation Institute, The Whiting Foundation, and the Kaplan Fund), ASOR CHI undertakes projects to document, protect, and preserve the cultural heritage of war-torn Syria, northern Iraq, and Libya. Hundreds of significant heritage sites have been damaged since fighting began in 2011. Although the destruction of cultural property represents only part of the humanitarian crisis, these harmful actions threaten our common world heritage and cultural diversity. We have an ethical obligation to respond, and our project is part of an international effort to work with Syrians, Iraqis, and Libyans (and other peoples) to protect their heritage and cultural identity.

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2026 Nominees for ASOR Board Elections

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CHI – UPDATE – Palmyra: New photographs detail damage to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Palmyra

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UPDATE: PALMYRA: NEW PHOTOGRAPHS DETAIL DAMAGE TO THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF PALMYRA

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

[/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_column_text]

On March 2, 2017 SARG and pro-regime allies, backed by Russian airstrikes, recaptured the UNESCO World Heritage site of Palmyra from ISIL. ISIL had previously recaptured the area in December 2016. Photographs and video footage released confirm the damage to the Roman Theater and Tetrapylon first reported by ASOR CHI in January 2017. It is reasonable to expect that the renewed fighting has also impacted the Citadel. According to some reports, ISIL militants may have mined much of the ancient site as they retreated from the city.

In May 2016, after the site was recaptured from ISIL, a Russian symphony orchestra performed a concert in the Roman Theater. ISIL was able to recapture Tadmor/Palmyra as the focus of SARG military activity shifted to the city of Aleppo. ISIL then carried out revenge killings and other acts of retributory violence, and the most recent attacks in Palmyra targeting secular as opposed to religious monuments may be indicative of similar motives. The Roman Theater and Tetrapylon were spared deliberate destruction during the first ISIL occupation, which saw widespread deliberate destruction of ancient temples, tombs, and antiquities in the Palmyra Archaeological Museum, as well as the looting of antiquities for sale.

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The Roman Theater (facing northwest) after the site was recaptured from ISIL by the Syrian Army (Valery Sharifulin/Getty; April 3, 2016)

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Damage to the Roman Theater seen on March 2, 2017 (DGAM; March 2, 2017)

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The tetrapylon of Palmyra after the site was first recaptured from ISIL by the Syrian Army (Valery Sharifulin/Getty; April 3, 2016). The monument is now destroyed following the second ISIL occupation.

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(Library of Congress; Accessed June 23, 2017)

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In January 2017, reports surfaced that ISIL militants had carried out a new wave of executions, including one inside the Roman Theater. Satellite imagery showed debris in the center of the stage, though the extent of the damage was previously unknown. New photographs show that the Roman Theater has sustained damage to the stage backdrop (scaenae frons), primarily in the area of the Porticus. The main entrance of the stage backdrop was badly damaged with the peaked roof and columns destroyed with debris scattered across the stage.

Palmyra’s late 2nd-century CE Severan-period theater is located southwest of the colonnaded Decumanus. The theater is unfinished, consisting only of the lowest level of seating, the ima cavea (the media and summa caveae would normally be above this lowest section, which is reserved for the elite), but still represents one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Syria. The Roman Theater is ringed by a colonnaded portico that opens onto a colonnaded street leading to Palmyra’s Southern Gate.

Satellite imagery also confirmed that ISIL militants had destroyed the Tetrapylon. Photographs recently shared by DGAM show four pillars of the original 16 still standing, while the other 12 have been heavily damaged and are scattered around the base of the monument.

The Tetrapylon at Palmyra consists of four large plinths, each supporting four columns topped by a massive corinth. This type of tetrapylon is called a tetrakionion, in which the four corners of the structure are not connected overhead. The main colonnaded street of Palmyra changes direction twice, and at these points unique architectural devices — the Triumphal Arch and the Tetrapylon — were built to make the route appear more harmonious. Only one of the original pink Egyptian granite columns survives — the others are modern reproductions.

Video footage of the Citadel released by Ruptly TV shows the presence of armed forces, possible evidence of militarization of the site, as well as extensive explosives damage. The Citadel has suffered repeated war-related damage incidents the last few years, and it is often difficult to discern the impacts of recent incidents from earlier damage using the available photo documentation. It is clear, however, that ongoing clashes and aerial bombardment since ISIL captured Palmyra/Tadmor have severely damaged the ancient Citadel.

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The famous leaning al-Hadba Minaret (Panoramio)

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Protected: HIDDEN ASOR BOARD REPORTS FOR JANUARY CONFERENCE CALLS

Protected: HIDDEN ASOR BOARD HANDOUTS, NOVEMBER 2019

Protected: HIDDEN ASOR EC HANDOUTS, FEBRUARY 2019

CHI – Events

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Events

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National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summit

December 11, 2015

ASOR and the AIA hosted “Protecting our Shared Heritage in Syria—An International Summit to Promote Collaboration.” Click here for details[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1568646645218{padding-right: 20px !important;}”][mk_image src=”http://www.asor.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_2166_200-1.jpg” image_width=”250″ crop=”false” hover=”false”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

Cultural Heritage Initiative World Heritage Day Symposium

April 18, 2016

The 2016 symposium was held in Washington, D.C. Click here for details.[/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 css=”.vc_custom_1567043207298{padding-right: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text responsive_align=”left”]