📍 Breaking News: This article covers the latest developments. Stay informed with comprehensive coverage.
damascus, syria (North Press) – In latest months, Damascus and its surrounding areas have seen an unprecedented rise in illegal excavations targeting Roman, Byzantine, Jewish, and Ottoman sites. Moreover, what was once a risky and clandestine activity has become increasingly public, raising alarm among archaeologists and heritage experts. Analysts attribute this surge to two primary factors: the security vacuum created by the dissolution and restructuring of police and security troops, and rumors suggesting that Syria’s laws against antiquities smuggling have changed, allegedly allowing individuals to excavate in exchange for giving the state one-fifth of the value of any discovered treasures.
Treasures of the past Local diggers classify the buried treasures around Damascus into three main categories: Roman and Byzantine relics: Burial sites often containing Byzantine gold coins. Jewish treasures: Including Rashadi liras and precious ornaments. Ottoman caches: Frequently buried by retreating Ottoman troops, sometimes holding up to 1,000 gold coins, usually at shallower depths than older tombs. Modern treasure hunters increasingly rely on advanced magnetic-wave devices to detect metal and underground cavities. “I use a frequency detector that sends magnetic waves through the soil.
Every metal has a unique frequency,” stated Abu Walid, a local digger who spoke under a pseudonym. “We scan the area in 3D to determine the type and value of the metal. ” He added, “We can even detect geological changes that occurred hundreds of years ago. Some sites yield treasures, others don’t. ” Myths and superstition Superstitions remain strong among diggers. Abu Meyar, another excavator, asserted some tombs are “guarded by jinn. ” “When workers felt dizzy and short of breath, we realized the tomb was guarded,” he stated. “A sheikh known for communicating with the jinn had to negotiate with the spirits before we could continue. ” He added, “You must reach an understanding with the guarding jinn to proceed safely. ” Deep digs and strange signs Abu Meyar described one ongoing excavation reaching 18 meters deep. “We found it thanks to two fingerprints and an oval carving on a Roman column inside a relative’s house,” he explained. “The markings suggest it’s the tomb of a temple priestess. ” “We’ve found charcoal, sand, human bones, and carvings of a face with one eye open and one closed, plus a stone-carved phallus — all signs of Roman burial. ” Despite months of labor, success is not guaranteed. “If we find nothing, that’s normal,” he said.
A worker nearby lamented, “We’ve been digging for…