The head of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, Jaime Awe, said the destruction at the Nohmul complex in northern Belize was detected late last week. The ceremonial center dates back at least 2,300 years and is the most important site in northern Belize, near the border with Mexico.

“It’s a feeling of Incredible disbelief because of the ignorance and the insensitivity … they were using this for road fill,” Awe said. “It’s like being punched in the stomach, it’s just so horrendous.” Click here to read full story on NBC news

This article questions how many museums have stolen artifacts in their collections

85-90 percent of “classical and certain other types of artifacts on the market do not have a documented provenance.” 

read the full article here

“Returning stolen objects does not save archaeological sites, creating jobs does. Especially the right kind of jobs.

Why are archaeological sites around the world continuing to be destroyed and damaged at an accelerating rate? Why is our past disappearing before our eyes? To paraphrase James Carville, it’s the local economy! When looting, agriculture or residential construction on a site provides more jobs and income to a community, that’s how the community will use it.”

read the full article here

Smuggling everything from cigarettes to arms has long been a family business.

But Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters low on cash have started offering alternative payment for the guns they crave — stolen Syrian antiquities.

In this commentary, you will read about the art of civil war

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1764776/Comment-The-art-of-civil-war

The mosque is considered the largest and one of the oldest in Aleppo. It was built at the beginning of the eighth century, with the minaret crowning the building in 1090.

Irina Bokova, director-general of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has expressed “deep concern about the dramatic humanitarian situation in Syria and the threats to the outstanding cultural heritage of the country, which bear testimony to its history and to its cultural identity.” Click here to read  full article in Al Arabiya http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2013/05/01/-Syrian-heritage-a-victim-of-ongoing-conflict-.html

Part of the ancient Teotihuacán site, pictured above, is now underneath a Walmart. Walmart destroys Mexico’s cultural heritage for profit. An archaeologist, Dr. Donna Yates gives her view in this article http://usilive.org/walmart-destroys-mexicos-cultural-heritage

It presents the outcomes of the sessions of the meeting, including: 1) the opening and Making Cities Resilient campaign signing ceremony with the cities of Dubrovnik and Zagreb, Croatia, and the recognition of Nice, France, as a role model city; 2) the first session on the linkages between DRR and cultural heritage protection; 3) the second session on cities resilience to disasters in a changing climate; 4) the third session on the value of sharing experiences between cities; 5) the fourth session on partnership building; and 6) the adoption of the Venice declaration (in annex) and concluding remarks.

To view full document, click here http://www.preventionweb.net/files/25027_finalvenicereport1920march.pdf

In this article by Agence France-Press, you can read about the main cases of destruction of cultural heritage during conflicts, following the collapse of the minaret of the ancient Umayyad mosque in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Wednesday.

- MALI

- LIBYA

- IRAQ

- AFGHANISTAN

- THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

Click here for full article http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130425/cultural-heritage-casualty-war

A post from Guardian reports that

“ Turkish campaigners are turning to human rights law – a dramatic move to reclaim sculptures that once adorned the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, an ancient wonder along with sites such as the hanging gardens of Babylon and Egypt’s pyramids.

Greek sculptors in 350BC created a 40-metre-high monument, crowned by a colossal four-horse chariot on a stepped pyramid. A magnificent horse’s head is among sculptures acquired by the British Museum in the mid-19th century, which campaigners want returned to their original site – Bodrum in south-west Turkey. ”

A petition with 118,000 signatures has been organised and the Strasbourg court will be shown a documentary on how Turkey lost its ancient treasure.

Please read the details in the file attached below: