Daraa, Sep. 1 (SANA) The Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Daraa Province received a substantial collection of historical artifacts and heritage items on Tuesday, following a voluntary initiative by Syrian citizen Bahaa al-Masri from the town of Hit in the Daraa countryside. Al-Masri accumulated the extensive collection over a 20-year period.
Community role in protecting Syrian national heritage
Director General of Antiquities and Museums, Masoud Badawi, emphasized to SANA that local community participation is essential for recovering archaeological artifacts and household heritage items. Badawi noted that citizens preserving heritage items during the years of war demonstrates high public awareness regarding the protection of Syria’s civilizational legacy.
Badawi explained that the recovered artifacts span various historical eras and include pottery items, silver and bronze coins, and a gold piece. The collection will be transferred to the Confiscated Artifacts Division at the Daraa Antiquities Department following formal documentation and classification procedures. He confirmed that the Directorate will compensate citizens who voluntarily hand over archaeological collections in their possession.
Official inspection and historical evaluation
Head of the Daraa Antiquities Department, Mohammad Nasrallah, stated that the department was contacted by Bahaa al-Masri regarding the collection in town of Hit. Specialized teams were dispatched to inspect the items, confirming that a major portion holds significant archaeological value.
Nasrallah expressed gratitude to al-Masri and called on citizens holding archaeological items to hand them over to official authorities for proper inventorying, restoration, and registry inclusion. He highlighted that the town of Hit has previously witnessed similar citizen-led initiatives, expressing hope that this experience serves as a national model across all Syrian provinces.
A 20-year passion yields 7,000 historic relics
Bahaa al-Masri recounted to SANA that his passion for collecting historic artifacts began 20 years ago with a single small piece, gradually expanding into a collection of roughly 7,000 items covering historical periods from the Sumerian civilization through the Islamic and Ottoman eras. The collection also includes comprehensive Syrian currency issues dating back to 1900.
Al-Masri shared that his dedication transformed his home into a private museum before he resolved to hand over the collection to state authorities to ensure its long-term preservation and security.
Al-Masri emphasized that his initiative aims to leave a lasting legacy for future generations and inspire others to protect national heritage, urging collectors and antiquities traders to hand over items in their possession to support state efforts in preserving Syria’s cultural history.
H.H
