American and international websites have brought renewed attention to the discovery of human remains in the cellars of the Abd al-Hamid al-Zahrawi Palace in the city of Homs. They are calling for an independent archaeological assessment to determine the nature of these remains, the circumstances of their discovery, and whether excavation and restoration work may have compromised the historic burial site.
The National Law Review published an article titled "Reports of Ancient Human Remains at the Al-Zahrawi Palace in Syria Raise Heritage Concerns," while Society Arts and Culture featured a piece on October 14, 2026, titled "Published Videos Raise Heritage Concerns at the Al-Zahrawi Palace in Syria."
Both articles note that videos released by the newspaper Zaman Al-Wasl show exposed skeletal remains within the palace cellars. The footage was reportedly filmed in May 2026, followed by a series of follow-up reports from the newspaper on October 9, 10, and 12.
Citing Zaman Al-Wasl, the reports mention that the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums has attributed the bones to the Byzantine era; however, the circumstances of their discovery, their archaeological context, and the methods used to handle and preserve them have not been subject to independent verification.
The articles emphasize that publicly available information does not definitively establish whether excavation activities disturbed archaeological strata or damaged the burial site. Furthermore, the details regarding the findings of technical inspections and assessments—as well as the specific measures taken to protect the site—remain unclear. The statement called for the formation of an independent team of specialists in archaeology and the preservation of historic buildings to determine the age and archaeological context of the human remains, document the work carried out within the palace—including the dates it was performed—and assess any potential damage to the burial site or historical architectural elements.
It also requested the publication of examination results, inspection reports, restoration plans, and relevant permits, while urging that measures be taken to protect the vaults and archaeological remains from further damage.
The statement noted that heritage experts affiliated with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Syria) have expressed their willingness to provide professional insights to international journalists, clarifying that this does not constitute an official statement issued by the Council itself.
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.