The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Syria

Abstract

ABSTRACT The site of Shash Hamdan is located on the Syrian Euphrates and includes impressive Roman-era rock-cut tombs. This article documents the extent of the damage to one of those tombs, Tomb 1 (T1), by comparing the evidence published by an Australian archaeological expedition in 1998 with images collected between 2006 and 2016 and also with a new survey that was undertaken in 2020. Interviews with people who live near the site were also conducted to identify the causes leading to the destruction of the tomb. This study explores the factors that contributed to the damage to cultural heritage before and during the Syrian conflict.