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The Essential: 11/11/2015 15:23 GMT: The Inquiry: Is it too Late to Save Syria’s Antiquities?

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Is it Too Late to Save Syria’s Antiquities?

11/11/2015 15:23 GMT

11/11/2015 15:23 GMT: The Inquiry: Is it too Late to Save Syria’s Antiquities?

The Inquiry: Is it too Late to Save Syria’s Antiquities?

BBC World Service - The Essential, The Inquiry: Is it too Late to Save Syria’s Antiquities?

The threat to Syria’s cultural heritage from years of war.

The threat to Syria’s cultural heritage from looting, war and wanton destruction.

Syria’s cultural heritage is being attacked from all sides - the Assad regime, opportunistic looters, opposition forces, Islamic State fighters and even Russian air strikes. Ancient sites like Palmyra have been destroyed, and it is feared that hundreds of precious valuables have been smuggled out of the country to be sold on the international art market. Is it too late to save Syria’s antiquities? We speak to experts including the specialist trying to recover stolen items being sold on the global antiquities market, the volunteer organising a kind of archaeological resistance inside Syria, and the team reconstructing the country’s historic sites using technology.

(Photo: Baalshamin detonation; Credit: AP)

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