Searching for treasures | Turkish-backed factions continue excavating archaeological hills in Afrin

Aleppo province: SOHR sources have reported that Turkish-backed militiamen continue excavation and digging work at the archaeological hill of “Zontry” near Afrin city. The hill, which is registered at the Syrian Ministry of Culture and General Administration of Antiques and Syrian museums, is located near Qourt Qolaq village in Sharran district in Afrin countryside. The militiamen had used heavy diggers and earth-moving machineries for digging and excavating the hill, destroying successively ancient and archaeological layers. Moreover, Turkish-backed militiamen felled hundreds of olive trees surrounding the hill, where the area containing ancient fossil is estimated to be of 15,000 square metres.

 

This comes as a part of the series of violations by Turkish-backed factions in “Olive Branch” area in Afrin.

 

On March 12, SOHR sources reported that Turkish-backed factions continued excavation and digging work in the archaeological hill of “Basarqah”, near Kafrum village in Afrin city.

 

It is worth noting that this site is registered at the Syrian Ministry of Culture and General Administration of Antiques and Syrian museums based on Article no. 244, in 1981. Furthermore, the area from the hill to the foot of the “Acropolis” was subjected to excavation and digging work with heavy diggers and earth-moving machineries, as it was leveled completely. In addition, olive trees around the hill were felled.

 

While on March 10, SOHR sources reported that militiamen operating under the banner of the Turkish-backed “National Army” destroyed the remaining part of the archaeological well of Khazyan near Al-Khazyan Tahtani village of Ma’batli district. It is worth noting that this site is registered at the Syrian Ministry of Culture and General Administration of Antiques and Syrian museums based on Article no. 244, in 1981.