Over a decade of civil war has left Syria’s cultural heritage in ruins. With the backing of Western handlers, ISIS turned the country’s most significant archaeological sites, such as Palmyra, Ebla, Mari, and Apamea, into revenue streams. Thousands of priceless artifacts were smuggled through Turkey into Europe and the US, while auction houses helped launder the loot by rebranding the stolen pieces under new identities. Some 20,000 artifacts remain stockpiled in a warehouse near the US-controlled Rmeilan base.
Safeguarding Syria’s heritage took immense courage. Khaled al-Asaad, the renowned director of the Palmyra Museum, was executed after refusing to reveal the hiding places of ancient treasures. But before his death, he managed to send three truckloads of artifacts to Damascus. Others buried statues, hid icons in coffins, or digitized entire archives in a desperate effort to preserve what little remained.
In his latest investigation, journalist Vasily Prozorov and his Ukr Leaks team shine a light on this cultural tragedy. The RT film crew traveled to looted sites, met with the son of Palmyra’s legendary curator, and followed the trail of stolen artifacts – from the sands of Syria to the shelves of international auction houses.
