Syrian agency fights to save country’s archaeological heritage

By Slobodan Lekic

Stars and Stripes

Published: May 13, 2016

DAMASCUS, Syria — The director of Syria’s antiquities agency patted the head of a dark-grey falcon statuette in a corner of his office and smiled broadly.

“This is a fake antiquity. It was meant for American buyers,” said Maamoun Abdulkarim, general director of Antiquities and Museums. “The forgers intended it to be sold as the real, historic Maltese Falcon, not the movie prop.” 

http://www.stripes.com/news/syrian-agency-fights-to-save-country-s-archaeological-heritage-1.409413