麻豆社

Three hundred of Syria's heritage sites have been damaged by military clashes, ideological vandalism and illicit excavations, according to the country's head of antiquities.

Professor Maamoun Abdulkarim is in the curious position of being employed by a government which is itself responsible for attacking some of the sites he is supposed to protect.

He told Edward Stourton about some of the steps that are being taken to preserve the ancient treasures.

Photo: Palmyra ancient ruin, before ISIS damaged it in 2014 Credit: Getty )