The battle to save Syrian antiquities

Guest: Amr Al-Azm and Brian Daniels

As the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria takes over more territory, archaeological sites in those countries are being looted and destroyed and by militants. Valuable and important relics from the earliest periods of recorded history are being sold as part of the illicit antiquities trade to fund ISIS terrorist activities. To help stem the loss of the region’s significant cultural heritage, our guests, BRIAN DANIELS from Penn Museum’s Cultural Heritage Center and AMR AL-AZM from Shawnee State University are working with the Syrian Interim Government’s Heritage Task Force, to train museum curators, heritage experts, and civilians working to protect cultural heritage inside Syria. They join us today to talk about their work, the historical significance of the region and the efforts underway to prevent further loss.