Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Palmyra, SANA- A Syrian-Russian team has begun to rehabilitate the historic Afqa spring in the ancient city of Palmyra, which was vandalized as a result of the attacks by Daesh “ISIS” terrorist organization, under the supervision of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums.
The project is co-financed by the Russian Association for the preservation and study of historical and cultural heritage «Expeditionary volunteer corps», in addition to a number of archaeologists from the Heritage Institute in Moscow, the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a Russian company.
The project is implemented under the agreement signed with the Russian side to restore and rehabilitate several historical sites and landmarks that had been destroyed by terrorists in the ancient city of Palmyra, including the Afqa spring, which is a water spring and an archaeological cave carved into the rock.
The aim of the project is to clean the stream of Afqa spring of stones and rubble and restore its archaeological cave, especially since this spring is of exceptional importance as it is the reason for life in the city and the secret of its existence for nearly six thousand years, of Homs Antiquities and Museums Department, Hussam Hamish told SANA.
Hamish added that the restoration works at the spring include cleaning its stream of rubble and debris and ensuring the return of water flow, as it was previously, towards the oasis of Palmyra’s historic orchards, which is part of the ancient city.
The rehabilitation work also includes the structural aspect of this cave, and rebuilding and rehabilitating the archaeological arches, votive altars, and the stairs leading to the entrance to this archaeological and tourist cave.
For his part, Russian archaeological expert Timur Karmov, director of the campaign, confirmed in a similar statement that this important archaeological project, whose implementation period is about three months, contributes to restoring life to this spring, which in turn helps the return of farmers to their farms in Palmyra oasis and their stability in the region.
Karmov expressed great sadness over the destruction of the internationally important archaeological site of Palmyra, pointing out that the Russian side will exert all possible efforts and will mobilize all its archaeological expertise in the upcoming restoration work at other sites in this civilized city.
Ruaa al-Jazaeri
