Searching for antiquities | Turkish-backed factions bulldoze three archaeological hills in Afrin countryside

Aleppo Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

Ankara-backed factions continue excavating in search of antiquities in various villages and towns in Afrin area, north-west of Aleppo, where the Syrian Observatory has monitored armed men of the “Samarkand Brigade” bulldozing three archaeological hills in the village of Hajj Hassano, which belongs to Jandires district in Afrin countryside, north-west of Aleppo, in search of artifacts.

On November 22, reliable sources informed SOHR that Turkish-backed factions were excavating “Tal al-Bir” located south of the village of Afraza in Al-Ma’abatli area in rural Afrin.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, Tal al-Bir has been continuously excavated in search of artifacts over the past months since Turkish forces, along with their proxy factions, took control of the city of Afrin in March 2018. According to Observatory sources, the hill has been subjected to sabotage as the factions used heavy excavators while searching for antiquities in the area.

On August 26, reliable sources informed the Syrian Observatory that members of Turkish-backed factions are intensifying their search for hidden archaeological sites in the area of Afrin, after digging and bulldozing the archaeological hills and well-known religious shrines.

The members try to inquire about these sites from the elderly people of the area, by terrorizing them at times and giving them a percentage of the artifacts if found. This usually happens with the full knowledge and consent of Turkish intelligence, which also facilitates their work.