Dealing with Heritage in Syria: The Analysis of the Conflict Period (2011–2021)

Abstract

Damaged infrastructure and society's sense of ownership has to be rebuilt simultaneously during the aftermath of civil conflicts. Otherwise, heritage can become a barrier rather than an aid to integrated recovery.Syrian heritage is protected and monitored by the Antiquities Law; however, this law has not been updated since 1999. Thus, it is unable to deal appropriately with the post-war situation. When international actors and funders started reconstructing heritage sites in 2016, they could not rely on a central governmental heritage strategy, so many developed their strategies and agendas. The fragility of Syrian law compared to the international agendas resulted in various treatments and actions. While some projects have achieved a high quality of protection, others have not considered integration within recovery plans. This led to a research gap on the best ways to carry out heritage protection activities in Syria.This paper fills this gap in knowledge by describing the policy environment in Syria regarding the most frequently applied treatment and action methods while differentiating the treatment models and patterns that align modern purposes with authenticity. The results include a comparative classification strategy showcasing the Syrian conservation practice, highlighting the shared ideals, aims, and parameters. The developed assessment method and classification system can be applied to objectively determine the best ways to deal with any new heritage project in the Syrian context.