Looting

Museums Issue Most-Threatened List of Iraqi Treasures

Ancient Artifacts Under Siege

As the Islamic State wreaks havoc across Iraq, a silent and irreplaceable victim has emerged: ancient cultural artifacts. In response, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) has compiled a most-threatened list of cultural objects particularly vulnerable to destruction and looting.

ICOM’s Emergency Red List for Iraq

ICOM’s Emergency Red List for Iraq identifies seven types of cultural objects under imminent threat:

Stone tablets
Ancient clay figurines
Alabaster sculptures
Pre-Islamic coins
Manuscripts
Jewelry
Religious artifacts

These items, though not yet stolen, represent the types of goods protected by international laws and targeted by groups like the Islamic State.

Cultural Cleansing: A Strategy of Erasure

Jean-Luc Martinez, director of the Louvre Museum, describes the Islamic State’s actions as a “cultural cleansing” strategy aimed at erasing entire segments of human history. By destroying minority populations and priceless works of cultural heritage, the group seeks to obliterate the very fabric of Iraqi civilization.

Looting as a Funding Source

Looting plays a central role in financing the Islamic State’s operations. Experts estimate that stolen antiquities are the group’s second-largest source of revenue after oil. The illicit trafficking of cultural artifacts provides the organization with funds to purchase weapons, recruit fighters, and sustain its reign of terror.

International Collaboration to Combat Illicit Trafficking

ICOM collaborates with law enforcement agencies worldwide to track and recover stolen artifacts. The organization’s red lists have proven invaluable in assisting authorities in identifying and repatriating looted treasures. For example, a previous red list for Iraq helped recover 13 ancient Mesopotamian objects, while a similar list facilitated the recovery of thousands of stolen works from the National Museum of Afghanistan.

Preventing Destruction and Preserving Heritage

Protecting vulnerable cultural objects during conflicts is crucial for preserving human history and cultural diversity. Museums, governments, and international organizations play a vital role in safeguarding these treasures:

Establishing Red Lists: Red lists provide a comprehensive overview of endangered cultural objects, aiding law enforcement in identifying and tracking stolen items.
Enhancing Security Measures: Museums and archaeological sites should implement robust security measures to deter looting and protect artifacts.
Raising Awareness: Public awareness campaigns can educate communities about the importance of protecting cultural heritage and the consequences of illicit trafficking.
Supporting International Cooperation: Collaboration between nations is essential for combating cross-border trafficking and recovering stolen artifacts.

Success Stories in Artifact Recovery

ICOM’s red lists have had a tangible impact on the recovery of stolen artifacts. In 2012, a red list for Iraq helped authorities recover 13 ancient Mesopotamian objects that had been looted from sites around the country. Similarly, a red list for Afghanistan assisted in the recovery of thousands of stolen works from around the world after the looting of the National Museum of Afghanistan.

These success stories demonstrate the importance of international cooperation and the power of red lists in protecting endangered cultural objects. By working together, museums, law enforcement, and governments can safeguard the treasures of human history for generations to come.

Antiquities Looting in Syria: A Threat to Cultural Heritage

The Destruction of Syria’s Cultural Heritage

During wartime, cultural heritage sites are often at risk. In Syria, the Islamic State (ISIS) has been looting and destroying antiquities to fund their war efforts. Ancient cities like Homs and Aleppo have been reduced to rubble, and Roman, Greek, Babylonian, and Assyrian sites have been destroyed.

Museums have also been plundered, including the Mosaic Museum in Idlib province, which was filled with Roman-era works. Stolen Roman vases from graves are being sold in markets in southern Turkish cities like Gaziantep.

The Role of the “Monuments Men”

In an attempt to preserve Syria’s cultural treasures, a new group of “Monuments Men” has emerged. These archaeologists and heritage experts are working to catalog damage and protect endangered sites.

The group is now a 200-strong network operating in rebel-held Syria. Unlike their World War II counterparts, however, the Syrian “Monuments Men” have few resources and are not supported by armed units.

They rely on smugglers and fixers to travel through rebel-controlled territory, navigating a maze of armed groups including ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, the U.S.-backed opposition, and the Syrian regime.

Their work is dangerous, as they are targeted by both the regime and Islamist groups. However, they continue to work to protect Syria’s cultural heritage and educate rebel groups on the importance of respecting it.

International Efforts to Combat Looting

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has published an Emergency Red List of Syrian Cultural Objects at Risk to alert potential buyers to the looted artifacts’ possible origins and importance. UNESCO continues to highlight developments threatening Syria’s cultural heritage.

The Impact of Looting on the Conflict

The looting of antiquities is not only a crime against cultural heritage but also a source of funding for terrorism. Last year, an Iraqi intelligence official claimed that ISIS had made up to $36 million from looting a single area around al-Nabek, a Syrian city known for its early Christian sites.

The looting adds to the violence and suffering in the Syrian war, which has already claimed over 200,000 lives and displaced millions of people.

Challenges and Uncertainties

The Syrian “Monuments Men” face many challenges in their work. They have limited resources, are often targeted by armed groups, and the degree of success of their efforts is uncertain.

However, they remain committed to protecting Syria’s cultural heritage and raising awareness of the importance of preserving it.

Protecting Iraq’s Cultural Heritage: Urgent Action Needed to Save Ancient Artifacts