Syrian Heritage in Jeopardy: The Case of the Arslan Tash Ivories

A significant discovery of ancient ivory plaques at Arslan Tash, northern Syria, dating to the reign of Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III (744–727 BC), provides critical insights into Assyrian expansion and craftsmanship in the early first millennium BC. The ivories, found in a building known as the 'Bâtiment aux ivoires,' depict motifs such as the lady in the window, the suckling cow, and cultic scenes, with one plaque bearing an Aramaic inscription mentioning Hazael, a historical figure associated with a Levantine coalition against Shalmaneser III. The study involved conservation efforts by the Louvre Museum and the Syrian Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums between 2005 and 2009, which were disrupted by the Syrian civil war, leaving the fate of the Aleppo collection uncertain. This research underscores the importance of preserving Syria's archaeological heritage amid ongoing conflicts.

Caubet, A. (2017). Syrian Heritage in Jeopardy: The Case of the Arslan Tash Ivories. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 5(1), 92–101. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.5.1.0092