Cultural Heritage at Risk

The term "cultural heritage" refers to the physical artifacts, traditions, and practices that make
up the legacy of a particular group or culture. The physical forms of cultural heritage include
objects preserved in museums, buildings and monuments, and archaeological sites.

By their very nature, the physical forms of cultural heritage are subject to many risks: they may
be lost, broken, vandalized, degraded naturally over time, stolen, or even intentionally
destroyed. Guarding against such risks are institutions like museums (which collect and thereby
preserve objects of cultural heritage), various laws and international agreements, and even an
entire arm of the United Nations: UNESCO

Cultural heritage "preservation" focuses on ensuring the continued existence of objects of
cultural heritage. Cultural heritage "restoration" focuses on restoring objects of cultural
heritage to their original appearance.

War, conflict, and poltical instability have had a serious impact on the safety and preservation
of cultural heritage around the world. The most recent hot spots have been in the Middle East
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Museums have been looted, archaeological sites disturbed or even
destroyed, and ancient artworks and artifacts have disappeared into the black market.

In this Module we look at two recent examples: the destruction of Buddhist monuments in
Afghanistan in 2001, and the destruction of ancient Roman monuments in Syria in 2015.
Choose one of these case studies to complete the Cultural Heritage at Risk assignment.

BAMIYAN BUDDHAS 2001
In 2001, Afghanistan was controlled by a fundamentalist Islamic regime known as the Taliban.
Because their interpretation of Islam forbade religious imagery, they sought out and destroyed
existing religious images in the territory they controlled.

Bamiyan, in northern Afghanistan, was the site of monumental statues of the Buddha carved
into the sandstone cliffs in the fourth and fifth centuries CE. The Taliban destroyed the statues
using dynamite in March of 2001. For a contemporary account of the destruction, see this
article:

"After 1,700 years, Buddhas fall to Taliban Dynamite," Daily Telegraph (3/12/01)

With the fall of the Taliban, attention is now directed toward preservation and restoration of
the destroyed Buddhas. Some argue that the empty niches where the Buddhas stood should be
left empty; others wish to rebuild the statues:

"UNESCO: Destroyed Bamiyan Buddhas Nearly Impossible to Rebuild," Voice of America
 (3/21/11)

"Rebuild Afghanistan's Giant Buddhas? Foot-shaped Pillars Give Legs to Debate" Wall
Street Journal, (9/24/14)

Most recently, a 3D projection has "restored" the Buddhas:

"They Were Destroyed by the Taliban...," Public Radio International (6/11/15)

What do you think? When objects of cultural heritage like these monumental Buddha statues
are destroyed, should they be rebuilt? Or is it better to leave them in ruins as a reminder and
memorial to what happened?

Post your thoughts on the Cultural Heritage at Risk: Bamiyan Buddhas Discussion. Reply to at
least two other student posts.

When you have completed posting and replying (x2), come back to this page and click "Mark
as Done."

PALMYRA, SYRIA 2015
The self-described Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) currently controls a swath of territory in
northern Iraq and Syria that contains some of the most important early archaeological sites and
museums. As with the Taliban in Afghanistan (see above), ISIS follows a fundamentalist
interpretation of Islam that prohibits religious imagery. Whether for this reason, or for other
political or economic reasons, they have deliberately ransacked museums and archaeological
sites, destroying ancient artifacts and monuments. For an overview, see this wikipedia entry.

In 2015, ISIS gained control of a major world heritage site, the ancient Roman city of Palmyra.
They released photos and video showing the systematic destruction of irreplaceable
monuments and buildings at the site. In April 2016, Russian and Syrian government forces
pushed ISIS back and liberated Palmyra. Archaeologists and officials are now assessing the
damage:

"UNESCO Officials Take Preliminary Stock of Destruction in World Heritage Site of
Palmyra," UNESCO, 4/26/16)

"The Strategy Behind the Islamic State's Destruction of Ancient Sites," NY Times
(3/28/16)

Recent reports indicate ISIS is advancing toward Palmyra again:

"As Cease-fire Ends, ISIS Advances on Palmyra in Syria," CBS News (5/11/16)

What options do we have to protect sites like Palmyra? Are they simply casualties of war,
their defacement and destruction something we just need to accept? Or are
there mechanisms available to us to protect or at least "preserve" in some manner such
critical ancient monuments? If you were in a position to do something about this, what would
you do?

Post your thoughts on the Cultural Heritage at Risk: Palmyra, Syria Discussion. Reply to at
least two other student posts.

When you have completed posting and replying (x2), come back to this page and click "Mark
as Done."