The head of UNESCO has expressed alarm about widespread illegal archaeological excavations across war-ravaged Syria. The UN's cultural, education and science arm has warned auction houses museums and collections about the problem.
"The biggest danger there, apart from the destruction we have seen of the world heritage sites ... is the illicit archaeological excavations," UNESCO general director Irina Bokova said. She did not say whether those involved in such excavations had any alignment with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or rebels seeking to oust him. "Anybody can do it," she said. Ms Bokova did not disclose details of the locations of the illicit excavations in Syria. In September UNESCO issued what it called a "red list" of types of artefacts to alert museums, collectors and auction-houses what to be on the lookout for from Syria. Ms Bokova said illicit Syrian artefacts have surfaced in neighbouring Jordan. In February, Maamoun Abdulkarim - head of Syria's antiquities and museums - said illegal archaeological digs have threatened tombs in the desert town of Palmyra and the Bronze Age settlement of Ebla. Amid many good humoured jokes and proud reflections on the long history of the journal, Trowel XIV was irrevocably launched by the eminent scholar and Head of School, Prof. Tadhg O'Keeffe on December 5th, 2013, at the HII.
The editors were extremely pleased with the exceptional turnout and success of the evening. This celebratory publication, containing 12 articles, a book review and 2 reflection pieces, is now available by contacting the editors through the Contact Us page. The editors have announced that the launch of Volume XIV will occur at 5:30pm, on Thursday December 5th, 2013, at the HII in University College Dublin. The journal will be launched by the eminent scholar and Head of School, Prof. Tadhg O'Keeffe.
The editors of Trowel XIV say they hope to have the journal printed by the end of the month and that a provisional launch date for the journal is being considered for early December. Watch this space!
A LEADING marine archaeologist has described as “absolutely incredible” some of the initial exotic findings on a shipwreck recently discovered off the west Cork coast.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0605/1224317295749.html The earliest evidence of Hurling?
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0303/1224312677032.html SCIENTISTS HAVE revived a fertile plant from the remains of its 32,000-year-old fruit found deep in the Siberian ice and buried within the fossilised burrows of ancient squirrels.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0222/1224312168928.html When the find was revealed to be a 'cheap fraud', several eminent men – including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – were put in the frame. Now scientists aim to put an end to the mystery once and for all
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/05/piltdown-man-archaeologys-greatest-hoax |