Searching for relics and antiques | Ankara-held factions continue destructing and dredging archaeological sites in Afrin countryside
Aleppo province: The search for antiquities and systematic destruction of archaeological sites by the “National Army” factions in the “Olive Branch” area continue in attempt to find relics and antiquities.
On the other hand, ongoing digging operations continue in Tal Aboush archaeological site at 650 m western Afrin River and south Mamrouq village. The site which is located 20 km northern Afrin city is registered as one of the Syrian archaeological sites.
The site has exposed sabotage works by heavy machineries and diggers of the National Army factions in search for the relics and treasures and for destroying the Syrian historical heritage in general and in Afrin in particular. The sabotage activities reached the 6,000 square-meter surface of the site hill.
Also, dozens of archaeological sites have been being exposed to systematic sabotage actions via digging and heavy machineries that impacted the top hill of Acropolis. The digging also reached the surrounding hills in search for relics and antiques that are buried in the agrological hills.
Since the Turkish forces and their proxies control on Afrin city, they have destroyed tens of archaeological sites most prominent of which was Tal Ain Darah that was bombed by Rurkish airstrikes in 2018 and was later completely destroyed its basalt lion was moved to unknow destination.
On December 18, reliable sources informed SOHR that the Turkish-backed faction of “Mohamed Al-Fateh” brought in heavy diggers and earth-moving machineries to Kali Khariba area in Ma’mal Ushaghi village in Raju district. The faction’s members started digging and excavating this archaeological site, searching for buried relics and antiques. In addition, the militiamen sabotaged several farmlands which contained ancient wells around that site.
It is worth noting that the excavation work took place under strict security procedures. According to SOHR sources, the excavation works have been in progress since November 22 in plain sight of the Turkish forces.