Searching for antiquities | Turkish-backed factions continue excavating, stealing mosaics, hiding basalt lion, and destroying over 25 archaeological sites in Afrin

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored the complete destruction and vandalism of more than 25 archaeological sites, during the search for antiquities, as the persons who work in these site are inexperienced and using tools and means that are not commensurate with these delicate works, where members of the Turkish-backed factions use heavy drilling mechanisms such as bulldozers to extract the burials.

In the meantime, the basaltic lion of Ain Dara, located in an archaeological temple near the village of Ain Dara, remains hidden after being moved by faction members months ago.

It is worth nothing that the Temple of Ain Dara is one of the most important archaeological hills in Syria and is one of the most unique archaeological objects in the Levant.

SOHR sources reported earlier the arrest of a Turkish officer in Al-Mastumah post, as he was found involved in smuggling antiques and artifacts from Syria to Turkey via military vehicles carrying officers and guards escorting the Turkish columns.

In recent months, the Syrian Observatory monitored Turkish-backed factions continuing their excavations and destruction of religious shrines in search for antiquities in Afrin. The archaeological hill of Aranda in the western countryside of Sheikh Hadid was indiscriminately bulldozed and excavated by these factions.

In the meantime, excavations and vandalism took place at the “Sheikh Hamid” shrine in the village of Qastal Jando in Sharan district in Afrin countryside, while residents accused members of Turkish-backed factions of carrying out such excavations, and with help provided by Turkish intelligence.