Lebanon’s Heritage: The Plundering of Antiquities
Summary
r/Lebanon shares a report on the plundering of Lebanon’s archaeological heritage, from Phoenician statuettes and Roman mosaics to artifacts looted during the civil war. It details police raids that seized over 5,000 items and highlights the threats facing historic sites, including theft and damage from construction.
The Plundering of Lebanon’s Heritage
A Phoenician statue for my coffee-table
The Economist, April 3, 1999
DIG a hole in the ground almost anywhere in Arabia, it is said, and oil will gush out. Dig a hole in practically any Lebanese hillside, and a wealth of archaeological artifacts will tumble forth. A few of these discoveries end up on display in museums, many more in the salons of Lebanese grandees. Look around and you may see a coffee-table resting on a Greek capital, a tiny Roman mosaic sprucing up the foyer, a spread of Phoenician statuettes and Byzantine coins strewn along the bookshelves or a discreet Crusader cannon in the courtyard.
Lebanon, a country carpeted in historical bric-a-brac, is still recovering from its 1975-91 civil war. Its budget is hobbled by huge deficits. Archaeological preservation has not been a priority-until now. Since mid-March, in a series of surprise raids, the police have seized over 5,000 artifacts from private homes and shops. In theory, when someone unearths anything over 300 years old, he is supposed to contact the Directorate-General of Antiquities, which has three months to examine the object or site before deciding whether to commandeer it. In practice, the rules are flouted.
During the civil war, many ruins and museums were looted. A director of the National Museum preserved his biggest and most precious pieces from theft or damage by encasing them in concrete, but other objects were treated less lovingly. The police recently discovered, for instance, that every single movable item had been stolen from the old Ottoman citadel at Sidon. Even now, builders regularly pilfer, discard or pour cement over ancient remains to avoid the delays and hassle of the historical commissars.
Until recently, the antiquities officials were themselves part of the problem: indeed, the police raids arose from an investigation into their department. A former director-general has been hauled in for questioning. But even honest employees, with a budget of just $5m, cannot keep track of the millions of artifacts in the coun...
Post Author: /u/ashrafiyotte
Content Warning: None
