In a country exhausted by war and poverty, citizens are emerging from the oppression of the Assad regime—and are using metal detectors.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, residents of Damascus have noticed new faces roaming the streets at night, their owners carrying metal detectors that flash in the dark.
In the countryside, men have also begun arriving on private farmland, carrying pickaxes and maps that they claim reveal the locations of buried treasure. Syrians have been freed from the fear that dominated life under Assad, but they still suffer from extreme poverty and the legacy of war, and a "gold fever" has spread among them, according to a report published by the Financial Times and reviewed by Al Arabiya Business.
Abu Wael, 67, a treasure hunter who describes himself as a "professional," says, "Under the regime, it was impossible to go out on a moonlit night to look for gold, for fear of being caught by security forces."
But that has changed. Metal detectors were previously banned in Syria, according to several sellers. However, this year, several shops specializing in these devices have opened in the capital, displaying models priced at up to $10,000. Their windows are decorated with Syrian flags, gold coins, and images of men carrying the latest devices.
A Boom in Prospecting Activity
One seller says that a small number of people had been secretly searching for treasure for decades, but after the fall of Assad, this activity has seen a boom "thanks to the ease of purchasing these devices." Most of those interviewed declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
In a country suffering from high unemployment and a comprehensive economic collapse, the "gold rush" is no longer a form of madness, but a last-ditch effort to survive. Some see treasure in the dirt, while others see this madness as salvation.
He believes Many Syrians firmly believe in the existence of buried treasures, because "our region was the cradle of many civilizations," the vendor said, noting that some customers believe their land contains buried riches, based on family stories passed down through generations.
He added, "But many people practice this as a hobby. Campers find it a fun pastime." There are even devices for children, and we sell small sizes in green and pink.
Metal and Water Detectors
Another vendor said he sold dozens of devices from his small shop in Damascus, which was adorned with large posters of metal and water detectors. The store stocks German, Chinese, and American handheld devices, as well as expensive long-range devices. He noted that some Syrians have come from neighboring countries to participate in the searches.
The appeal of treasure hunting for Syrians has deep historical roots. From generation to generation, Syrians have passed down stories of buried gold and archaeological treasures left behind by vanished civilizations, or of Silk Road caravans and pilgrims who passed through them.
Amr Al-Azm, a professor of history and anthropology at Shawnee State University in Ohio, who previously worked for the Syrian Department of Antiquities, said, "Everyone in our region knows a relative who was digging in his house one day and found a jar filled with gold. These stories are part of the region's mythology."
But under Assad, such excavations were prohibited under the pretext of protecting archaeological sites, and those who dared to dig did so at night and in complete secrecy.
Digging in gardens and tearing down walls in search of treasure
As the regime's grip crumbled and a security vacuum emerged, Syrians—90% of whom live below the poverty line, according to the United Nations—rushed to archaeological sites, digging in their gardens and tearing down walls in search of treasure.
"The war destroyed the economy and people's livelihoods, so they started looking for alternative incomes," says Al-Azm. He pointed out that this was not unusual, as "most Syrians live above, next to, or very close to an archaeological site."
A rumor circulated in Damascus that a group of men had found an archaeological treasure and become rich overnight—with varying accounts of their number, the location, and the type of treasure. Experts interviewed by the Financial Times cast doubt on this story, suggesting that any gold found was on the ground. Most likely looted from museums or homes of regime officials who decorated their palaces with antiquities.
Rumors Spark Imaginary Get Rich Quick
No discovery has been confirmed yet. But the rumors have sparked people's imaginations, especially after years of watching regime soldiers loot and steal everything they can get their hands on.
A source in the government media office said these excavations "are still technically illegal."
Equipment companies were quick to seize the opportunity, even on Facebook. One store specifically promoting equipment to Syrians offered shipments of devices it said were suitable for Syria's rocky, basalt soil. Another sold a device that displays a 3D image of what's buried and determines its depth.
A recent trend: waterproof devices for those who want to dive underwater in search of gold.
Al-Azm said some hunters target the areas surrounding the Hejaz Railway, which connected Damascus to Medina in the early 20th century, believing it to be rich in gold. Some believe that the retreating Ottoman forces in 1917, after their defeat in Jerusalem, buried chests of gold on their way north.
Massive Looting
Syrian museums are home to hundreds of thousands of artifacts and manuscripts, including Greek statues and murals dating back to the second century. It is believed that some 300,000 items were hidden in secret locations after the outbreak of war in 2011, and some were returned to the National Museum in 2018.
No one knows the extent of the looting or what was destroyed during the war. Reports from archaeologists and local news sites indicate that stolen gold crowns, crosses, and coins have reached the homes of wealthy individuals around the world via Turkey.
Abu Wael said that such illegal sales do not take place online. However, predators have taken advantage of the opportunity to sell their "finds." Al-Azm said, "Most of what is offered for sale, whether on social media or through word of mouth, as Ottoman or Roman gold coins, are fake." He attributed this to "people's overactive imagination."
He added that some of the displayed items are likely stolen: "I was shown and personally seen real artifacts from various parts of Syria. This activity increased dramatically after the fall of the regime, due to the security vacuum that followed."
Abu Wael spoke of the dangers of "real" searches, including attacks by local residents who notice the digging and chase the searchers to seize their finds.
Finding Treasures Is Not Easy
He keeps videos on his phone sent to him by other searchers, showcasing their discoveries in the hope of finding buyers. One shows the uncovering of a fragile parchment scroll inscribed with gilded Hebrew letters, echoing legends of treasures buried in Jewish cemeteries.
In a hushed tone in a crowded Damascus café, Abu Wael said that his 40 years of experience has taught him that finding treasures is not easy. He accused detector vendors of tricking people into spending their savings on an "illusion."
He added that "sorcerers" and "knowers of the unknown," led by a figure known as "The Red Sheikh," demand money to read ancient symbols and inscriptions believed to indicate the locations of treasures.
Abu Wael has never found a treasure throughout his four-decade journey. But he came close once, he says: "Years ago, after reading certain signs for days and digging in several places, I returned to the main site to find it completely excavated." Villagers told him that a group of men had dug at night and found a chest of gold.
He concluded with a sad smile: "But maybe this is better. We have a proverb that says: 'Whoever finds gold loses his mind.'"
(Arabia Business; Translation by The Syrian Journal)
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.