National Museum of Aleppo As a Model

Strategies for reconstructing and restructuring of museums in post-war places (National Museum of Aleppo as a Model) A dissertation submitted at the Faculty of Philosophy and History at the University of Bern for the doctoral degree by: Mohamad Fakhro (Idlib – Syria) 20/02/2020 Prof. Dr. Mirko Novák, Institut für Archäologische Wissenschaften der Universität Bern and Dr. Lutz Martin, Stellvertretender Direktor, Vorderasiatisches Museum, Staatliche | downloaded: 8.10.2021 Museen zu Berlin Fakhro. Mohamad Hutmatten Str.12 D-79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen Bern, 25.11.2019 Original document saved on the web server of the University Library of Bern This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No derivative works 2.5 Switzerland https://doi.org/10.24442/boristheses.1947 licence. 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The detailed license agreement can be found at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ch/legalcode.de Table of Contents List of Plans ......................................................................................................................viii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................ix List of Abbreviations .......................................................................................................xiv Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................xvi Abstract ............................................................................................................................xvii 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................1 1.1 The museum ...........................................................................................................1 1.2 The importance of the museum ............................................................................1 1.3 History of archaeological museums in Syria .......................................................2 2. Syrian museums during the conflict ............................................................................4 2.1 Museums damage due to the armed conflict .......................................................4 2.1.1 Shells, clashes damage ....................................................................................5 2.1.2 Armed attack (occupation by the fighters) ......................................................5 2.1.3 Looting and theft .............................................................................................6 2.1.4 Terrorism .........................................................................................................8 2.2 Protection measures ..............................................................................................10 2.2.1 Directorate General of Antiquities & Museums .............................................10 2.2.1.1 Documentation and archiving ..........................................................10 2.2.1.2 Transporting artefacts ......................................................................11 2.2.1.3 Protection and enforcement .............................................................12 2.2.1.4 Confiscations ...................................................................................12 2.2.2 Non-governmental organizations ...................................................................12 2.2.3 International efforts ........................................................................................13 2.3 Houses of the archaeological missions .................................................................14 3. National Museum of Aleppo as a model ......................................................................17 3.1 History of National Museum of Aleppo ...............................................................17 3.2 An overview of the contents of the museum before the conflict ........................19 3.2.1 Prehistoric section ...........................................................................................21 3.2.2 Ancient Syrian Antiquities section .................................................................22 3.2.3 Classical section ..............................................................................................25 iii 3.2.4 Arabic-Islamic section .....................................................................................25 3.2.5 Modern Art section, mosaic hall, and garden of the museum .........................26 3.2.6 Warehouses (museum storages) ......................................................................27 3.3 National Museum of Aleppo during the conflict ....................................................28 3.3.1 Background of Aleppo war .............................................................................28 3.3.2 Museums of Aleppo under fire .......................................................................28 3.3.3 National Museum of Aleppo: risk types and threats .......................................30 3.3.4 Destruction and damage at National Museum of Aleppo ...............................30 3.3.5 Protection measures at National Museum of Aleppo ......................................31 3.3.5.1 Documentation .................................................................................31 3.3.5.2 Transfer of removable objects ..........................................................32 3.3.5.3 Immovable objects ...........................................................................32 3.3.5.4 Other measures .................................................................................33 3.3.5.5 Difficulties in protection efforts .......................................................34 3.5.5.6 Were the protection efforts at National Museum of Aleppo sufficient to preserve the artefacts? ..................................................34 4. Future (post-war) Strategies at the National Museum of Aleppo .............................35 4.1 Importance of the strategies ...................................................................................35 4.2 Lessons to be learnt from previous experience of similar situations ..................37 4.2.1 Beirut museum ...............................................................................................37 4.2.2 Iraqi museum of Baghdad ..............................................................................40 4.2.3 National Museum of Afghanistan (Kabul Museum) ......................................43 4.3 Experiences of Modern Museums ..........................................................................48 4.3.1 Bernisches Historisches Museum and Einstein Museum ...............................48 4.3.2 Antikenmuseum Basel and Sammlung Ludwig ………………………….....50 4.3.3 Museum Rietberg in Zurich ……..................................................................55 5. The restructuring scenario of the current building ...................................................62 5.1 Previous errors committed at the National Museum of Aleppo before the conflict ...................................................................................................62 5.2 Human resources in the restructuring phase .......................................................64 5.2.1 Training for the staff ......................................................................................66 iv 5.3 The New Permanent Exhibition ............................................................................68 5.3.1 Museum presentation ..................................................................................68 5.3.2 Museum entrance ........................................................................................69 5.3.3 Statues Reception ........................................................................................70 5.3.4 Prehistoric Section ......................................................................................75 5.3.4.1 Definition of the Prehistory ...........................................................75 5.3.4.2 Suggestions for the new presentation ............................................76 (Details of archaeological sites, artefacts, and achievements) 5.3.4.2.1 The first Axis: The Lower Paleolithic Period .................76 5.3.4.2.2 The second Axis: The Middle Paleolithic Period ............77 5.3.4.2.3 The third Axis: The Epipalaeolithic Period .....................78 5.3.4.2.4 The fourth Axis: The Neolithic Period ............................79 5.3.4.2.5 The fifth Axis: The Chalcolithic

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