SHAM completes fieldwork in al-Marqab citadel

The joint Syrian-Hungarian Archeological Mission “SHAM” has completed its 15th fieldwork season in al-Marqab citadel located 5km east of Banyas city in Tartous province, according to the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museum.

The DGAM said that the mission focused this season on the archeological and architectural documentation and drawing up development plans for the rehabilitation of the citadel and its surrounding.

“The 15th season, which started by the beginning of this month, comes within a project the DGAM  and the Pazmany Peter Catholic University of Hungary agreed on,” one of the heads of the mission’s team Edmonal-Ajjitold the official news agency (SANA).

He added that the mission started its work in the citadel in 2007 and it continued till 2012. But it was stopped due to the terrorist war on Syria.

“The project aims to add the citadel to the list of the UNESCO’s world heritage sites,” al-Ajji said, pointing out the importance of archeological documentation during the crisis Syria is going through in order to protect  antiquities.

“This year, the Pazmany Peter Catholic University offered 50 scholarships to the Damascus University in the field of archeological studies,” he indicated.

It is worthy to note that the SHAM team headed by Edmon al-Ajji, Marwan Hasan and Balazs Major was composed of experts of archaeology, architecture, conservation, heritage management and students from both Syria and Hungary.

Basma Qaddour