Country Summary for SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC (SYRIA)
Definitions
Antiques and Antiquities (used interchangeably):
Movable or immovable properties that man built, manufactured, produced, wrote or drew more than two hundred calendar years ago or two hundred and six Muslim calendar years ago. The Antiquity Authorities can also consider movable or immovable properties of more recent periods antiques if they determine that these properties have historical, artistic, or national characteristics and a ministerial decision is issued for that purpose. (Decree No. 222, Art. 1)
Immovable antiques:
Antiques that are physically connected to the ground - such as natural caves or man-made ones, rocks that have drawings, inscriptions or writings made by ancient man, and the ruins of cities and constructions that are buried in accumulated hills (tells) and historical monuments that were constructed for different purposes like mosques, churches, temples, palaces, houses, hospitals, schools, citadels, castles, walls, playgrounds, theatres, khans, hammams, graves, constructed tunnels, dams, and the ruins of those monuments and whatever connects to them, like doors, windows, columns, verandas, stairs, roofs, friezes, crowns, altars and tombstones. (Decree No. 222, Art. 3A)
The Antiquity Authorities preserve antiquities in the Syrian Arab Republic, and it is only they who decide which historical monuments and archaeological sites are to be considered antiques to be registered. Registering an antique monument means that the state agrees on its historical, artistic or national importance and works to restore, preserve, study and utilize it according to the provisions of this law. (Decree No. 222, Art. 2)
The Antiquity Authorities may give written permission to deal with the archaeological areas and historic monuments that do not need to be registered. (Decree No. 222, Art. 15)
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