#apamea

The larval form of a dark arches moth, Apamea monoglypha

@stellatheknave​ submitted: found this supermodel digging holes for a research project, any idea what it is? my first guess was a beetle larvae, but it seems a bit big for anything we have here. eastern central alberta, ~3½-4½ cm long

(after the photoshoot i made a cleft in the ground away from our holes and dropped it in, and dont worry i didnt bury it)

From Prensa Latina

“Damascus, May 21 (Prensa Latina) - Syrian Army units have found dozens of archaeological pieces stolen by terrorists and hidden in the recently liberated city of Qalat Al Madiq, media reported Tuesday.”

Satellite Imagery of Ancient Sites in Syria: Before and During Wartime.

The images above shows satellite imagery of three notable ancient sites in Syria: Dura-Europos, Mari (Tell Hariri), and Apamea.  All three sites have sustained extensive damage and looting throughout the Syrian Civil War, as seen by the high density of looting pits present in the photos on the right.   

The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) has become widely associated with looting and the destruction of cultural material as a result of their high profile destruction of ancient sites like Nineveh, Hatra, and Palmyra. It is a common misconception, however, that the terrorist organization is solely responsible for the destruction of Syria’s cultural heritage.  Research conducted by Jesse Casana of Dartmouth College has shown that the general number of looted sites were actually higher within territories held by Kurdish and Resistance groups than in those held by IS in 2015. On the other hand, the sites within IS territory were more likely to suffer severe damage than in other areas of Syria, suggesting that looting was more organized. 

The destruction of cultural heritage has been observed before within countries with major civil unrest, but never to the scale that is being currently seen within Syria. Whether it is being conducted by people desperately in need of supplies and money, or terrorists doing it as a cultural cleaning tactic, the archaeological looting in Syria is a sobering reminder that the destruction of heritage and war go hand in hand.

If you interested in protecting Syria’s cultural heritage, you can help by donating (if you are able) to ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives, which monitors damage and develops plans for emergency preservation of cultural heritage sites in Syria.