Khaberni - Syrian security forces in the town of "Sheikh Miskeen" in the countryside of Daraa imposed a tight security cordon around a construction site, following the gathering of large numbers of citizens after widespread rumors confirmed the discovery of a treasure and gold-laden cave during the digging of house foundations.
According to local sources, the security intervention aimed to secure the site and prevent random stampedes and injuries due to the possibility of landslides, pending the start of an inspection by a specialized team from the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums to determine the historical nature of the discovered opening.
Archaeology experts resolved the prevailing controversy, confirming after field inspection that the discovered site is an "archaeological burial site dating back to the Roman period", categorically denying the social media circulated news about the presence of golden relics or treasures, and describing those reports as rumors lacking in scientific credibility.
This incident highlights the phenomenon of random excavations that have increased in the southern region, rich in archaeological sites dating back to successive civilizations.
In this context, the authorities reminded of a legislative decree imposing severe penalties for illegal excavation or failure to report archaeological findings.
Hundreds of archaeological sites damaged
According to international and local reports, Syria's archaeological and heritage wealth faces major challenges, with United Nations data indicating that more than 290 archaeological sites have been damaged since 2011 due to military operations and illegal industrial digging.
The damage to the field sites did not stop there, but also extended to systematic looting affecting national museums and historical documents subjected to widespread theft and robbery operations, accompanied by ongoing attempts to smuggle archaeological pieces and market them through international networks on the internet.
Satellite images reflect a catastrophic level of random excavations, where thousands of digs have been spotted at major historical sites such as Palmyra and Apamea, due to the use of heavy machinery and illegal metal detection devices, threatening the loss of priceless civilizational landmarks.
The General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums continues to carry out awareness campaigns urging citizens to protect the national heritage and to immediately report any findings during construction or agricultural activities, considering these sites a national treasure that cannot be replaced.
