Inanimate Casualties: An Analysis of Cultural Heritage Destruction and Looting During the Syrian Civil War and its Reoccuring Ties in Conflict
Open Access
Author:
Pangarkar, Reema Rajeev
Area of Honors:
Art History
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Ann Eloise Killebrew, Thesis Supervisor Brian A Curran, Thesis Honors Advisor Mary Lou Zimmerman Munn, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Cultural Heritage Destruction Looting Syria Iraq Conflict
Abstract:
With the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, the world saw yet another conflict with high death rates, refugees, and destruction. However, that was not all that was destroyed in Syria. Destruction and looting of cultural heritage, both intentional and unintentional is a devastating reality of this conflict and many like it. The destruction and looting is funding and prolonging the fighting, encouraging destruction of cultures and people that are not the “correct faith”, and destroying thousands and thousands of years of important history. This area of the world is used to this kind of destruction, we saw similar occurrences beginning in 2003 in Iraq. What is concerning is the lack of action taken after these subsequent conflicts. Monument after monument is being looted and destroyed in the name of ideology and the world stays silent. The Middle East is the cradle of civilization and the destruction of heritage here is important not just for this region, but also for the entire world. This paper will examine looting and destruction in key sites in Syria and Iraq. Through this comparison it will be easier to understand the reasoning behind this destruction and looting. Resulting in a better understanding and ability to address the issue of resolving the destruction and looting of cultural heritage.
