Today in Focus Syria’s treasure hunting fever
Jul 14, 2025
William Christou, a Guardian correspondent focused on Lebanon and Syria, teams up with Amar al-Azam, a professor of Middle East History at Shawnee State University. They dive deep into Syria's surge in treasure hunting amid civil unrest and the dire consequences for cultural heritage. The discussion highlights looted sites like Palmyra, the role of ISIS in profiting from destruction, and the economic desperation driving locals to excavate. They also cover initiatives to preserve history and the complex gray market of antiquities, emphasizing the responsibility of collectors.
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Palmyra Looting Anecdote
- Looters dig ancient burial grounds in Palmyra nightly, searching for valuable funerary gold and artifacts.
- These items, like silver coins and pottery, can fetch hundreds to thousands of dollars on the black market.
ISIS Industrialized Looting
- ISIS institutionalized looting by regulating permits and taxing profits on antiquities.
- They industrialized destruction of archaeological sites for profit, bulldozing mounds swiftly.
Desperate Looting Post-Regime
- After Assad's fall, many Syrians rapidly looted antiquities out of desperation amidst poverty.
- One former civil servant found an ancient manuscript and sought buyers urgently for cash.