Stolen Artifacts Originating from Syria Found on Facebook's Marketplace for Sale
In the heart of the Fertile Crescent, an ancient city that dates back to the 3rd century BCE, Palmyra stands as a testament to human civilization. However, this UNESCO World Heritage site is under threat, as looted artifacts from the city and other archaeological sites in Syria are increasingly appearing for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Over the past decade, conflict and instability have driven widespread looting of historical artifacts across Syria. Thousands of items, ranging from prehistoric periods to the Islamic era, have been stolen and sold on the black market. Despite efforts to enforce bans on selling historical artifacts online, enforcement remains challenging amid ongoing conflict and smuggling networks.
NGOs and archaeologists have taken action to protect Syria's cultural heritage. Secret operations have been conducted to rescue and secure thousands of artifacts, with plans for their eventual transfer to local museums. Approximately 7,400 artifacts have been safely stored, signaling a positive step in cultural heritage preservation.
However, the prevalence of looted artifacts on platforms like Facebook Marketplace highlights the difficulty in completely stopping illegal sales online. This illicit trade severely undermines Syriaβs cultural heritage by removing artifacts from their context, encouraging further looting, and depriving the region of its historical patrimony.
The looting of artifacts in Palmyra has reportedly surged following the overthrow of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad by rebels in December. Thieves are robbing graves and listing the funerary gold and artifacts they take on Facebook Marketplace. The speed of sales ranges from 100,000 to 900,000 people, with mosaics being sold in as little as two weeks, according to Katie Paul of the ATHAR Project.
The Syrian government has threatened jail sentences of up to 15 years and finder's fees for those caught looting artifacts. However, their efforts have been more focused on rebuilding following the recent political fracture, leaving limited resources available for the protection of archaeological heritage.
Facebook Marketplace users in Syria may find artifacts that may have been looted. Despite Facebook banning the sale of historical artifacts in 2020, the platform has emerged as a hub for the sale of looted antiquities. The policy is not enforced strictly enough to deter looters, allowing the illicit trade to persist and negatively impact cultural heritage.
Amr al-Azm, a professor at Shawnee State University, stated that there was a breakdown of any constraints controlling looting after the regime's fall. The ATHAR Project, which tracks trafficked Middle Eastern antiquities, noted that nearly one-third of its Syrian cases occurred in December. The policy banning the sale of historical artifacts on Facebook is not enforced strictly enough to deter looters.
The looting of artifacts, along with widespread poverty affecting 90 percent of Syria's population, puts the country's cultural heritage in danger of being lost and destroyed by those looking for a quick buck. The ongoing tension between efforts to preserve Syria's ancient heritage and the damaging effects of conflict-fueled looting and online illicit sales underscores the need for increased protection and enforcement.
- The threat to Palmyra's cultural heritage extends beyond the physical destruction, as looted artifacts find their way into the market, even in unexpected places like social media platforms for business and personal finance, such as Facebook Marketplace.
- In the realm of environmental-science and education-and-self-development, understanding the impact of climate-change and the role of environmental-science could help identify factors contributing to the ongoing instability and conflict in Syria, which in turn fuel looting.
- As technology continues to evolve, so do gambling-trends, and the gambling industry, represented by casino-and-gambling and lotteries, has shown interest in utilizing new platforms like social media for advertising and sales strategies, raising concerns over the potential exploitation of such systems for illegal activities like selling looted artifacts.
- The looted antiquities trade has infiltrated various spheres of society, leading to questions about career-development and ethical standards, as individuals participate in this illicit business, either as active looters or passive buyers.
- Despite the challenges faced in stopping the online sale of historical artifacts, it is essential for technology companies like Facebook to prioritize the development of more robust policies and enforcement mechanisms to protect cultural heritage and prevent the promotion of crime-and-justice, such as cyber theft.
- The illicit trade of looted artifacts poses a threat not only to the specific artifacts and their historical significance but also to the economy, with potential damage to the real-estate, finance, and investing sectors, as investors may opt for safer, ethical opportunities instead of engaging in risky transactions.
- Beyond the immediate concerns about the loss of Syria's cultural heritage, there is a broader discussion taking place in the field of general-news about the role of cultural patrimony in shaping a society's identity, sense of history, and overall development.
- In response to the ongoing looting and illicit sales of artifacts, several businesses in the culture and entertainment industry have launched campaigns to raise awareness about the issue, using media platforms like social media to educate the public and encourage responsible practices.
- The looting of artifacts from Syria's rich archaeological sites is not only a blow to the region's cultural heritage but also has far-reaching consequences in various fields, such as science, technology, education, and business.
- The looted artifacts trade often intersects with other criminal activities, such as money laundering, human trafficking, and terrorism financing, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to address these issues across multiple domains, including surveillance, intelligence, and law enforcement.
- As the world grapples with the pressing issue of looted artifacts in Syria, various solutions have been proposed, such as the use of blockchain technology for verified artifact provenance, increased collaboration between governments, NGOs, and social media platforms, and stricter penalties for those involved in the illicit trade, to help safeguard the region's precious heritage for future generations.
