Tourism, Antiquities Protection Body’s role in protecting peoples' history

ALAN ROJ / NEWS DESK

During the seven years of conflict and crisis in Syria, the Syrian people have lost many of its historical and cultural features, such as the moral values ​​of its peoples and tangible material, such as its monuments and ancient and modern cities, to distort its beauty while armed organizations groups supported abroad sabotaged the remaining.

Rojava areas and the regions of North Syria have always been striking in the protection of the cultural, communal and national heritage and the historical monuments, it embodies as a project based on social solidarity and protection in order to protect historical gains on their land. The antiquities protection was one of the priorities of autonomous administration and its forces defending its territory, despite numerous attempts to steal and destroy assets by terrorist organizations and hostile and subversive entities.

Tourism and Antiquities Protection Body is an integrated and miracle institution for the Syrian conflict

The People's and Women Protection Units were based on the principle to protect the cultures, acquisitions and heritage of the peoples of the area. In 2012-2013, they set up committees to protect the archaeological hills and the houses of archeological missions, this was before the proclamation of Democratic Autonomous Administration in Rojava on 21,1, 2014.

A body for tourism and antiquities protection was formed for the protection of archaeological sites in Rojava with its three cantons, al-Jazeera- Afrin- Kobani, and the beginnings are the most difficult because of the rich archaeological sites of more than 1,300 archaeological hills in al-Jazeera canton alone.

"Our primary goal is to strengthen the culture of protecting the tourist and archeological sites of the community, to prepare draft laws and appropriate solutions, and to develop training for cadres," said the co-chair of the Tourism and Antiquities Protection Body of al-Jazeera canton, Perivan Haso, in order to carry out and define the archaeological and historical sites and create a mechanism to communicate with international organizations and bodies involved in the work in many areas related to the monuments and protecting it.

The main activities of the body at home

During the past years, the Tourism and Antiquities Protection Body has adopted many social awareness campaigns and exhibitions, which targeted the general segment of the society in order to increase awareness of the preservation of the cultural heritage in the area which concerns all the components of the area that have been living together since ancient times and to the present time

Most of the archaeological sites and excavations located in al-Khabour Valley, the banks of the Tigris River and the Euphrates valley have been documented in writing and photographing, monitoring the archaeological hills through committees and watchmen in each area of the region, as well as saving, securing and restoring many important  Aryan pieces, with the help of international archaeologists such as mosaic paintings which were rescued from theft and destruction in the area of ​​the Shieks Garbi in Kobani.

The body, through its professors in the field of archeology, initiated training, theoretical and field training workshops for students of academies and universities in Rojava and Syria, which included lectures on the history of the ancient east and the area, in particular with field visits and archaeological sites.

The body has professors and archeologists who prepare historical studies and publish them on sites and media outlets on archeology locally and internationally. The annual reports of 2016-2017 issued by the body on the general situation of archaeological sites in the region have been admired by more than 150 bodies and institutions concerned with the protection of monuments and have praised the role of the leading body in this regard, in particular the United Nations of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Dozens of exhibitions were opened in all areas of North Syria in order to raise awareness of the history of the area and its implications for society, as well as the production of documentary and television programs in the picture.

Archaeological discoveries and correspondence with foreign missions for joint cooperation

During the four years of activities and protection of antiquities, many archaeological sites were discovered and other artifacts that were almost destroyed or scattered by thefts, acts of ISIS and other groups aimed at the culture and heritage of the area were rescued and secured with the help of military forces.

Several historic tombs and a cuneiform figure were discovered in al-Khabour and Euphrates areas, as well as large carved pieces in the areas of al-Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Kobani, which were secured and protected from destruction and theft in museums equipped by the body, which will serve the community and the student in the future within a national museum.

On the external level, the body, through its influential activities in the field of antiquities and its protection, has been able to attract foreign missions that previously worked in the area, administrators from the body met formally with the American mission at the archaeological site of Tel Mozan at a conference in Beirut.

The body also received an official invitation from two German organizations at the University of Marburg, during which they discussed the situation in the area and means of joint work in the future, as well as the joint restoration and maintenance work in several archaeological sites such as the archaeological Tal Baydar of al-Jazeera canton and other historical sites.

In this regard, the MP in the body, Bawar July, said, "the Body, by relying on its own efforts and its local scientific cadres through the years of the Syrian crisis was able to achieve this positive situation of preserving archaeological sites from systematic sabotage compared to other areas of Syria, governmental and non-governmental organizations did not provide the support in both inside and abroad financially or presenting modern documentation techniques or provide them with specialized expertise to enhance their work in this field "

Syrian Democratic Forces and internal security "Asayish" and their role in protection

On the internal level, the body is continuing and in close contact with all parties concerned with the protection of monuments, both the military establishment and in particular the Syrian Democratic Forces and internal security forces, which is considered the deterrent force against any infringement on archaeological sites or civil institutions, especially the Municipalities and Environment Bodies in order to maximize cooperation and prevent any violations in the archeological sites.

Where many of the artifacts and carvings had been taken out and stolen by smugglers and dealers of antiquities were handed over to justice as well as handing over the pieces to the body.

The Body is informed by the Syrian Democratic Forces of any piece found in the ongoing liberation operations in areas where there are remnants of ISIS according to the coordination committees competent between the two sides.

The Body also played a major role in documenting the violations of the Turkish state in Afrin and Derik, and preparing reports and documents on the effects of destruction in the historical sites in the landmarks of the Prophet Hori and Aindara and the Citadel of Samaan and other important sites in Afrin and Pavel Bridge in Derik, to hand it to the concerned regional and international organizations.

H/S

ANHA