As the conflict in Gaza progresses, there is a growing concern over the systematic erasure of the region’s rich cultural heritage alongside the devastating loss of life.
According to UNESCO, at least 164 cultural sites across the Gaza Strip have suffered damage since military operations commenced, posing a severe threat to the region’s historical legacy.
Iconic historical landmarks, including the Great Omari Mosque, Hamam al-Sammara, Qasr al-Basha in Gaza’s Old City, and the al-Qarara Cultural Museum near Khan Younis, have been impacted by the ongoing hostilities.
Beneath the debris lie invaluable artifacts and ancient relics that narrate thousands of years of Gaza’s vibrant history as a crossroads of diverse empires and civilizations.
Amid the massive destruction and displacement caused by the ongoing conflict, invaluable relics of Palestinian history are at serious risk of being lost forever.
The “Guardians of Heritage” initiative, organized by the Mayasem Association for Culture and Arts, is working tirelessly to salvage these vulnerable items before they deteriorate or fall into illicit hands.
Shaimaa Mohammad al-Natour, assistant coordinator of the program, explained that their dedicated team has successfully rescued over 1,700 historical pieces from multiple museum collections since launching their mission.
While the team strives to recover the remaining artifacts spanning Gaza’s 5,000-year-old history, they operate under immense constraints, including severe resource shortages, constant displacement, and strict military restrictions.
Their efforts also extend to the highly dangerous task of recovering items near the so-called “Yellow Line,” a restricted dividing zone under full military control that remains extremely hazardous for rescue operations.
“While these areas were once manageable, their current locations are now completely inaccessible due to the ongoing security situation,” al-Natour noted.
“The primary obstacle in continuing our work is the location of these collections behind the ‘Yellow Line,’ which poses an unacceptable risk to our team. Our core principle remains that human life must always come first,” al-Natour emphasized.
With a vast majority of residential and public structures damaged or destroyed since the conflict began, the team operates out of a temporary tent in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. What started as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a critical field operation dedicated to preserving Gaza’s cultural identity.
The team conducts comprehensive field surveys across central and southern parts of the Strip to assess the extensive damage inflicted on both private and public museum collections during the prolonged conflict.
This represents the first coordinated local initiative to address the war’s impact on historical landmarks. The team collaborates closely with local residents and displaced families who encounter artifacts while sifting through the widespread debris.
“When we receive reports of discovered artifacts, we first complete a comprehensive survey documenting the informant’s details, the exact location, and the current condition of the item,” al-Natour explained.
“The team then travels to the site to retrieve the items, initiating a meticulous process of cleaning, archiving, and detailed photographic documentation.”
Adhering to strict conservation protocols, the team ensures that the historical and spatial significance of each piece is preserved, ranging from recording the context of its discovery to assigning it a unique digital identity.
“Once the pieces are safely extracted, the documentation and archiving process begins. We strive to ensure that no artifact is brought into storage without a proper record and essential data identifying its origin,” al-Natour stated.
“We begin by logging its location and capturing it from multiple angles, linking the images to a unique identification code to prevent any mix-ups or loss of data.”
Despite numerous operational hurdles, the team remains dedicated to preserving the documentation, images, unique codes, and origins of every single artifact they recover.
Many archaeological items, especially pottery and glassware, suffer severe structural fractures from explosions and collapsing debris. The team handles these fragile pieces with extreme care, employing a policy of minimal intervention and stabilization through basic conservation first aid, as improper permanent restoration can cause irreversible damage.
The conservation process begins with a thorough inspection, detailed documentation of its condition, and photographs of any damage. However, the team is forced to work with limited technology, relying on mobile phones for photography and maintaining parallel paper backups to protect against potential data loss.
Each artifact is assigned a unique identification tag and stored in basic wooden crates with protective packaging. Soft brushes are carefully used to remove surface dust from pottery without damaging original markings.
While these basic tools offer a short-term conservation solution, professional-grade methods remain out of reach until essential equipment and resources can be secured—a difficult task under the constant threat of active conflict.
“In active conflict zones, the ultimate achievement can sometimes be simply halting the deterioration of an artifact and keeping it intact until proper conditions for specialized treatment can be established,” al-Natour explained.
Operating out of a temporary coastal tent exposes the recovered materials to harsh weather, insects, and rodents. High humidity, mold growth, and constant vibrations further threaten both the fragile artifacts and the wooden crates housing them.
“The wooden storage crates themselves require constant monitoring, as fluctuations in humidity and temperature can rot the wood or promote mold growth, ultimately damaging the precious items stored inside,” al-Natour noted.
“Furthermore, the constant relocation and transport of crates expose the artifacts to shocks and vibrations, particularly affecting already fragile or broken pieces. Operating in an area crowded with displaced populations makes daily transport highly challenging, while storage space remains critically limited.”
Establishing a stable, climate-controlled storage facility where temperature, humidity, ventilation, and lighting can be regulated is crucial. Additionally, the team requires specialized packaging, preservation materials, and environmental monitoring devices to ensure long-term preservation.
“Our greatest need is the transition from emergency salvage operations to long-term, professional conservation practices,” al-Natour stated.
“Furthermore, specialized training in preventive conservation, emergency collection management, handling damaged artifacts, damage assessment, and database management is urgently needed.”
The team is now planning the next phase of operations: transitioning items from temporary tents to more secure facilities. This complex process will require reviewing records, cross-referencing item numbers with crate contents, photographing items before and after transfer, and reorganizing them for efficient tracking and access.
The initiative’s impact extends beyond the physical rescue of ancient vessels and stone artifacts, aiming to foster community awareness and empower local residents and displaced individuals to become the ultimate guardians of their own cultural heritage and oral history.
“Through educational and field activities tailored for children, youth, women, and displaced residents, we organize workshops focused on antiquities, traditional crafts, and oral history. We encourage participants to ask questions and document the personal stories tied to their heritage,” al-Natour explained.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, the efforts to preserve Gaza’s cultural heritage offer vital lessons in community resilience and cultural preservation.
“The rescue process itself has become a powerful educational tool. When residents witness a team working under such extreme conditions to extract historical pieces from the rubble, they begin to view heritage as something worth protecting rather than dispensable during crises. We firmly believe that community awareness is one of the most vital lines of defense,” al-Natour concluded.
Also Read
- PM: I’d be ‘really concerned’ if Man City owners sell club
- Bangladesh Grapples with Escalating Dengue Outbreak as Death Toll Exceeds 230
- Federal Appeals Court Halts Tennessee’s First Female Execution in Two Centuries
- Strong natural gas production, supplies could ease pressure on winter heating bills
