We’re just beginning to grasp the toll of the Islamic State’s archaeological looting in Syria

A Syrian archeologist holds an artifact that was transported to Damascus for safe-keeping during the Syrian Civil War. AP Photo/Hassan Ammar Fiona Greenland, University of Virginia; James Marrone, Johns Hopkins University; Oya Topçuoğlu, Northwestern University, and Tasha Vorderstrasse, University of Chicago The Islamic State surrendered its last scrap of territory, in Baghouz, Syria, this past March. While some argue that …

Fifteen years after looting, thousands of artefacts are still missing from Iraq’s national museum

Some of the artefacts found after disappearing from the National Museum of Iraq. Ceerwan Aziz

Craig Barker, University of Sydney On April 10 2003, the first looters broke into the National Museum of Iraq. Staff had vacated two days earlier, ahead of the advance of US forces on Baghdad. The museum was effectively ransacked for the next 36 hours until employees returned. The National Museum of Iraq in the wake of looting in 2003. Jamal …

Looting of antiquities has increased under lockdown – here’s how we’re working to prevent this in Iraq

Training museum staff in Iraq in how to mark priceless heritage artefacts using SmartWater. Ali Al-Makhzoomi, Author provided Roger Matthews, University of Reading In addition to causing mayhem and misery for most, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has expanded the opportunities for illicit looting, theft and dealing in one of the world’s most important resources – its cultural heritage. Social instability …