Public radio’s longest-running daily global news program.
©2025 The World from PRX
PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402.
The Assault on Syria’s Cultural Heritage
The conflict in Syria is having a devastating impact on the country’s archaeological and cultural heritage. Many ancient monuments have been hit by artillery fire or shelling in the past few months.
Krak des Chevaliers, a Crusader fortress near Homs in Syria, before it was damaged by shelling during the conflict (Photo: WikiCommons/Bernard Gagnon)
The conflict in Syria has claimed thousands of lives.
It’s also having a devastating impact on the country’s archaeological and cultural heritage.
Last weekend, the Aleppo souk suffered great fire damage, and many more medieval monuments have been hit by artillery fire or shelling in the past few months.
Michael Danti, Assistant Professor in archaeology at Boston University, spent 20 years on an archaeological site by the Euphrates river, near Aleppo.
He used to visit the city’s souk often. Over the past few months, Danti has been collecting information on the wreckage of Syria’s irreplaceable ancient monuments and cities.