Heritage
Losing the Plot
Incredibly, parts of Beirut’s Roman walls have survived all the intervening upheavals, human and natural, of the past two millennia. But these remnants, and the ancient tombstones the walls were lined with, are under threat — not from earthquakes or war, but the construction of a parking lot.
Heritage for Hire
When videos surfaced of a private wedding held inside Lebanon’s Jeita Grotto, the country erupted in outrage. But the story goes beyond one event: It speaks to a wider crisis in the Arab world, where heritage sites are being turned into spectacles of privilege.
Treasure Hunters in a New Syria
Amid hunger and the aftermath of war, Syrians are turning to looting archaeological sites, and it will require time and resources to increase their protection and assess the damage. Yet despite the destruction, people remain deeply attached to their local heritage.
Lebanon’s Heritage Is Disappearing Under Israel’s Bombardment
Israel’s bombing of Lebanon has killed thousands and is doing significant damage to the heritage of a land rich in history. As smaller sites of historical and archaeological interest disappear, experts and locals wait with bated breath to see what becomes of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Tyre and Baalbek.