Iraq
ISIS blows up birthplace of Saladin
ISIS militants destroyed the Citadel of Tikrit, birthplace of Saladin and one of Iraq's most important archeological sites. The jihadists meanwhile seized several Syrian towns.
Tag: politics of archaeology
Iraq
Iraq: cultural cleansing in Mosul
The ISIS militants that have seized Mosul are engaged in a campaign of cultural cleansing—targeting not only the citiy's inhabitants, but its artistic and historical treasures.
The Andes
Peru: prison for regional leader who opposed mine
Gregorio Santos, regional president of Cajamarca in northern Peru who opposed the US-backed Conga mine project, was ordered under "preventative" detention.
Mexico
Mexico: four die in Chiapas land dispute
Twenty years after the uprising by the indigenous Zapatistas, land issues continue to produce violence in the Chiapas highlands–sometimes with outside encouragement.
The Andes
Andean protesters resist death-marred Dakar Rally
With three dead in accidents, the Dakar Rally Raid cross-country motor-race is being blocked by campesinos in Argentina, with comrades in Bolivia and Chile at the ready.
Central Asia
Arson attacks on Tibetan monasteries?
Three mysterious blazes at historic Tibetan monasteries across western China in as many months have sparked speculation about a campaign of arson attacks.
Palestine
Political archaeology advances in West Bank
Israel is financing construction of an "archaeological park" on a contested site in Hebron—assailed by Palestinians as cover for expansion of the city's Jewish settlement.
Palestine
Israel set to raze 3,000-year-old village
The Israeli High Court is set to rule on the forced expulsion of all of the residents of the West Bank village of Khirbat Zanuta, continuously inhabited for 3,000 years.
The Andes
Peru: developers raze ancient pyramid
A demolition crew razed a pyrmaid at El Paraiso archaeological site in Lima—apparently contracted by developers who covet the lands for a new commerical center.
The Andes
Archaeologists race tomb-raiders in Peru
The archaeologists who unearthed a priceless pre-Inca burial chamber at Huarmey, Peru, were in a race with outlaw tomb-raiders who operate with impunity.
Central America
Criminal gangs threaten Maya Biosphere Reserve
Mexican drug cartels that use cattle ranching to launder narco-profits as well as Chinese-backed illegal timber gangs are eating into Guatemala's vast Maya Biosphere Reserve.
Iran
tehran
At least 32 Azeri activists were arrested in the lead-up to an annual July protest at Babak Fort in Iran's East Azerbaijan province against discrimination targeting the ethnic minority. The arrests took place in several citiese, including Tabriz and Ahar, usually following home raids. Dozens more were summoned and threatened with arrest if they attended the ceremony. Babak Fort, also known as the Immortal Castle or Republic Castle, is a mountaintop citadel said to have been the stronghold of Babak Khorramdin, the leader of the Khurramite rebellion who fought the Abbassid caliphate in the ninth century CE. Babak is revered as national hero by ethnic Azeris and Iranians alike. Azeris, also known as Azarbaijani Turks, have for several years gathered at the citadel each July for the annual ceremony. (Photo: AzerTurk)