Bearing witness: list of damage to archaeological sites, monuments and heritage in Syria

Mosaics of Apamea

Damage inflicted by shelling

• Archaeological Villages of Northern Syria (World Heritage Site)
• Bosra (World Heritage Site)
• Krak des Chevaliers (World Heritage Site)
• Palmyra (World Heritage Site), Islamic citadel damaged by gunfire.
  
• Old city of Damascus (World Heritage Site)
  
• Old city of Aleppo (World Heritage Site)
  
• Medieval souk of Aleppo, destroyed by fire, suggested to have been started by shelling.^[4]
• Great Mosque of Aleppo, damaged during a Syrian rebel offensive. Wall destroyed by Rocket-propelled grenades. Also damage to the prayer hall and main gate.^[6]
• Apamea and the wall and towers of the citadel of Qal’at al-Mudiq (Al-Madiq Castle). (Tentative World Heritage Site)
• Mosque of Sermin^[7]
• Mosque of al-Tekkiyeh Ariha^[8]
• Al-Qusaayr Great Mosque
• Mar Elias monastery^[8][9]
• Mosque al-Herak^[10]
• Oldest mosque in city of Sermin
• Our Lady of Seydnaya Monastery
• Citadel of Aleppo^[11]
• Assyrian Temple at Tell Sheikh Hamad^[12]
• large parts of Hama
• large parts of Homs
• Tomb of Sheikh Dahur al-Muhammad in Rityan
• unspecified sites and monuments in the Daraa District, in particular Dar al-Balad, Da’il and Inkhil.
• Mosque al-Umary in Daraa (one of the oldest Islamic monuments)

Concern has also been raised about sites likely to be affected by shelling including the World Heritage Sites at the centres of Damascus and Aleppo and the tentative World Heritage Site of Norias of Hama.

Looting and damage caused by looting

There are twenty five cultural heritage museums dispersed around Syria, many with artifacts stored outside. It has been reported that Homs museum has been looted and that only the museums and monuments of the capital, Damascus are safe from looting and destruction from the escalating warfare between government militias and armed rebels. Hama museum was also reported to have been looted on 14 July 2011 and a golden, Aramaic statue dating to the 8th century BC was stolen. The doors were not damaged in the incident, possibly indicating staff responsibility for the looting.

 –The Museum of Raqqa, known as the Qala’at Jabar Museum was also looted on 1 May 2012. Stolen items included three figurines of the goddess Ishtar and pottery dating to the third millennium BC.

• Roman mosaics were looted from Apamea with Roman floors were ripped up with bulldozers.
• Two capitols from the collonade of Decumanus, the main (Roman) road in Apamea.
• The Museum of Deir ez-Zor
• The Maarat al-Numan Museum

Security at the Museum of Idlib has also been raised as a concern by Syrian archaeological heritage under threat. The lack of documentation of antiquities in the country has created a severe problem protecting the collections. Looting carries a fifteen-year prison sentence in Syria.

Latest reports indicate a growing black market in the region where antiquities are being traded for weapons. 

Damage inflicted by army occupation

Damage to ancient sites can be caused due to army occupation by encampments, entrenchment of military vehicles and weapons. It can also be caused during movement of materials for construction, souvenirs or even target practice.

• Palmyra (World Heritage Site), tank occupation, statues and reliefs damaged.^[2]
• Apamea (Tentative World Heritage Site), bulldozers digging into the citadel mound.
• Bosra (World Heritage Site), damaged by tanks.
• Tell Rifa’i, damaged by soldiers using it as a camp.
• The Chateau de Chmemis in Salamyeh, shelters for tanks excavated at the base of the citadel.
• Khan Sheikhoun, shelters for tanks on the slopes of the tell.
• Tell Afis, damaged by encampments.
• Tell A’zaz, damaged by installation of heavy weaponry.
• Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi monastery, possibly damaged during army search.
• Kafr Nubbel rock shelters, damaged during searches for deserters.
• Qal Markab, damaged by installation of heavy weaponry.
• Tell Nebi Mend, damaged by installation of heavy weaponry.
• Homs Qal, tanks and heavy weaponry installation.
• Qal Hama, tanks and heavy weaponry installation.

Source:  Wikipedia