Syria .. a journey to search for archaeological treasures in the ground and between the walls of the houses culture

The idea of ​​rapid wealth and securing the future of children and the family was not an impossible idea or far -fetched in the conversation of the Syrian young man Maher Al -Masalmeh.

In his speech to Al -Jazeera Net, Maher did not pay any attention to a law or legislation that prevents tampering with archaeological features and excavation of treasures in Syria, as he sees them as laws set by the previous regime, since the time of Hafez al -Assad and his son Bashar, as a couscous to plunder the wealth of the country on the one hand, and an iron tool to strike everyone who competes with them on Drilling and excavation of treasures on the other hand.

This narration of Maher does not belong to him alone, as it is in the sense of the meanings in which there is a good number of Syrians, who see that the previous regime stole their wealth, and looted the monuments buried in the belly of the lands they possess, and pushed them after falling into the drilling of their help to take what they say are their legitimate rights In a vision that Syrian officials in the new government considered it a real catastrophe on the heritage, civilization and ancient history of Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that the excavations of antiquities and treasures have spread widely in various cities of Syria in parallel with the fall of the regime, and the security vacuum this fall as a result of the preoccupation of the new Syrian state to extend its control over the total of Syria and the pursuit of killers, and the perpetrators of crimes against the Syrian people from Army leaders and security services.

Theft after the fall

In this context, the Director General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria, Dr. Anas Ahmed Haj Zaidan, stressed that the security void after the fall of the regime did not last long, indicating that many countries that witness radical revolutions or changes in corrupt regimes, are going through chaos that include theft. Looting of antiquities and excavation of treasures.

Hajj Zaidan said in his interview with Al -Jazeera Net that the archaeological areas that were stolen after the fall of Assad were confined to the ancient Affamia, Palmyra and Tartous area, but the state has restored its control over these areas and protects the antiquities and museums in it, and everything that has been stolen and restore what can be restored with Punish the actors and refer them to the courts.

Poverty and hunger

Dr. Anas confirms that the excavations have not stopped until now, and are still continuing, with their limitations in some remote and remote villages from the city centers, especially in Palmyra, Basra, which are two archaeological cities dating back to thousands of years, in addition to some other cities such as Daraa and Hama countryside.

Regarding the mechanism of excavation from antiquities and selling them illegally in Syria now, Haj Zidan explained that the process of excavation of treasures of all kinds and forms is done with complete confidentiality, which is not systematic, and not regular, reference to theft of antiquities and the impulsion of some to excavate after the fall of the regime, to what the regime has caused Assad himself, from poverty, hunger and deficiency of people to finding sources of money, especially in his areas of control, and the city of Daraa specifically to the existence of the effects Gold is close to the surface of the earth, unlike the areas controlled by the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al -Sham, in which the excavations were not largely.

Impacts and procedures

Dr. Anas did not hide the extent of his feelings as a result of the great effects resulting from the violating excavations that are now taking place in some Syrian regions, noting that the non -professional and non -scientific excavation causes sabotage, destruction, wasting their identity and threatening the ancient civilized legacy that is characterized by Syria, in addition to sabotaging lands It caused severe damage to it, which caused an increase in the number of complaints issued by many citizens.

The Director General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria emphasized that work is now underway to limit and document the damage caused by the theft of antiquities and excavations from them and from gold, and to refer those who commit these crimes to the competent authorities to hold him accountable and trial, and to confiscate the devices and equipment used by prospectors in research and excavation, especially those that are sold via Social media platforms, excluding the possibility of limiting all those who participated in these illegal operations, so what is important now In his saying, the restoration of all the museums and heritage and archaeological institutes according to the records of the regime.

Old treasures of Damascus

Samer, the young Damascene, who lives in the archaeological neighborhood of “Al -Qaimariya” in the heart of ancient Damascus, narrated to Al -Jazeera Net exciting details, about sabotage operations that affected an ancient timets, dating back hundreds of years, as it was also not spared from those seeking wealth and dreamers by discovering the buried treasure between the walls These homes.

Samer confirms that the hours and days that followed the fall of the lion were a golden opportunity for the two chapters who dug the old and heritage houses, in search of the pottery gold jar that their grandparents left, until it came to drilling inside the walls that were formed mosaic paintings, and it is considered from the heritage of the old city, and evidence of the carrier The old Damascene urbanization.

The Damascene young man tells myths engraved in the minds of the Damascene, that their ancestors were hiding archaeological artifacts and gold traits in pits that are not deep inside their homes, or in the roofs and thick walls, especially in the time of wars and crises that stormed Damascus throughout their history, indicating that these myths seem real in some Its details, especially since some actually found gold and effects in these places.

Take criminals and hold them accountable

We went to talk with the head of the ancient Damascus Antiquities Department, Engineer Nour Murad Keadim, who did not deny the abuses that Samer spoke about, but at the same time confirmed that the new Syrian government has put an end to the drilling and sabotage operations that affected some ancient Damascene homes, and each is being treated and limited to each The damage that occurred after the fall of the Assad regime.

Eng. Nour confirmed in her interview with Al -Jazeera Net that the theft of antiquities in Damascus was systematic during the Assad era, but now they are individual unprecedented operations, which some people perform in their old homes in a secret way to address their difficult economic conditions that they suffer from, loading Assad and his aides responsible for heritage and archaeological sabotage What affected Damascus and other Syrian cities, noting that the biggest challenges faced by the ancient Damascus Antiquities Department are now the construction violations that some people make During random restoration and uninterrupted construction violations that threaten the ancient Damascene homes.

Kadamim also revealed that the Institute of Antiquities and Traditional Sciences located in the Damascus Castle was stolen to steal all equipment and equipment by weak souls after the fall of Assad, noting that the new government is currently making firm operations to arrest criminals, evaluate damage, count, and restore everything that was stolen.

Kadamim emphasized that cooperation and consultation are now underway with international bodies and international organizations interested in world heritage wishing to provide everything that contributes to preserving and preserving historical cities in Syria, especially the ancient city of Damascus to face the challenges of the current stage, until reaching basic work items through which the rules are applied. The methodology for protecting the ancient Damascene heritage on the ground and obtaining tangible results.