Towards a Protection of the Syrian Cultural Heritage
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Leonardo Leckie, Emma Cunliffe, and Bastien Varoutsikos in association with Heritage for Peace Contact Emma Cunliffe: emma.l.cunliffe:@dur.ac.uk Heritage for Peace: [email protected] Published by Heritage for Peace, 2017 Hotel d’Entitats Rutlla, 20-22 Girona, Catalonia 17002 Spain All rights reserved. Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 4 Activities to protect Syria’s Archaeological Heritage ........................................................... 6 1. National Actions and Local Initiatives .......................................................................... 6 a) Projects .................................................................................................................... 6 i. Status of Staff .......................................................................................................... 6 ii. Status of the Site and Museum Records .............................................................. 6 iii. Status of Sites ....................................................................................................... 7 iv. Status of Artefacts ................................................................................................ 9 v. Cooperation with Local Authorities................................................................... 10 vi. Cooperation with International Authorities ....................................................... 10 vii. Local / Regional Initiatives: Construction of Museums and Libraries .............. 11 viii. Local / Regional Initiatives: Locals Work to Protect Sites ............................ 11 ix. Local and Regional Initiatives: New Groups ..................................................... 13 b) Awareness Raising (Campaigns / Events / Calls / Exhibitions) ............................ 14 x. Exhibitions in Syria............................................................................................ 15 xi. Syrian Conferences ............................................................................................ 17 c) Workshops / Training Courses (Internal) .............................................................. 18 d) Reports & Maps ..................................................................................................... 18 2. International Actions .................................................................................................... 19 a) Projects and Documentation .................................................................................. 19 xii. Site and Object Inventories ................................................................................ 19 xiii. Damage Assessment: Reports and Databases ................................................ 22 xiv. Information Databases (Photo Archives, 3D Models and Others) .................... 28 xv. Reconstruction Projects and Conservation ........................................................ 33 xvi. Projects Fighting Illicit Trafficking ................................................................... 41 xvii. Projects Relating to Intangible Heritage ........................................................ 50 xviii. Projects: Other ................................................................................................ 54 b) Talks, Conferences, Discussions, Workshops ....................................................... 62 xix. Cooperation Discussions .................................................................................... 62 xx. Appeals / Calls / Offers of Aid .......................................................................... 62 xxi. Conferences / Workshops .................................................................................. 63 xxii. Speeches / Talks ............................................................................................. 74 xxiii. Exhibitions ..................................................................................................... 77 xxiv. Other ............................................................................................................... 79 c) Laws, Legislation and Resolutions ........................................................................ 83 2 | P a g e xxv. Implemented ................................................................................................... 83 xxvi. Proposed ......................................................................................................... 87 d) Training / Courses ................................................................................................. 87 e) Military Operations................................................................................................ 90 f) Publications ............................................................................................................... 90 xxvii. Damage Reports / Publications ...................................................................... 90 xxviii. Looting........................................................................................................ 92 xxix. Guidelines....................................................................................................... 95 xxx. Policy / Recommendations (Other) ................................................................ 96 xxxi. 2016 Academic publications (Other) ........................................................... 100 xxxii. 2015 Publications ......................................................................................... 100 g) Others................................................................................................................... 102 xxxiii. Statements and Declarations ..................................................................... 102 xxxiv. Actions (Other) ......................................................................................... 104 xxxv. Funds and Scholarships ................................................................................ 104 xxxvi. Projects / Groups ...................................................................................... 106 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................ 110 3 | P a g e Introduction1 “The archaeological sites and the historic buildings are an important part of my identity, they represent my history. They are part of me.” Interview with Syrian heritage worker, conducted by Heritage for Peace 2015/2016 Heritage for Peace are pleased to introduce the (belated) report on actions taken to protect Syria’s heritage, volume IV. This report covers the period October 2015 to December 2016, and it is truly impressive how much the report continues to grow each year. In the past year, the destruction of cultural heritage across the world has continued, but the seriousness of the issue has also continued to rise in global prominence. There is a continual concern that as the media, and the world, become saturated with the conflict, attention – and action – will fade. Some have suggested that to demonstrate such concern for heritage, given the catastrophic costs of the war on Syria’s people, is callous. However, the scale of the work conducted by those in Syria, and those no longer in the country - supported by the international community - demonstrates a level of dedication to heritage protection that surpasses mere stones. The people of Syria are a part of their heritage. Each year, we learn of more people who have died trying to protect it. Many are nameless to us, known by false names to protect their identities and their families, or known only by their actions. Others are almost household names, such as Khaled al-Assad, the former Director of Palmyra beheaded by Da’esh. These people are defenders not only of cultural heritage, but of cultural rights, rights which are guaranteed in the Bill of Human Rights, and are recognised as such by the United Nations Office of Human Rights Special Rapporteur. This report stands as testimony to those who work continuously to protect Syria’s heritage, demonstrating that as time passes, more people have become determined to help, not less. Structure of the Report As before, a broad classification has been undertaken between “national/local” and “international” actions, but – given the commendable level of international work done by the Syrian community - it must be acknowledged that this separation is not reflective of the reality of the situation. Those actions listed in National/Local Actions are those which are mostly, or entirely, Syrian led, whereas those with a larger international component are listed under international actions. The distinction is arbitrary, and largely based on whose the website the action is published on. It is also intended to aid understanding of which groups have contributed to assisting Syria. Within these two sections, we have attempted to collate projects into rough categories, so that any person wishing to see the work being done in a given area (looting, for example), can see at a glance which projects are working in that area. These categorisations are intended for the readers’ ease, and should not be considered definitive. Many of the organisations listed are working together on collaborative projects, creating overlaps between