Raqqa, Sept. 9 (SANA) The Raqqa Archaeological Museum plans to temporarily display artifacts currently suitable for exhibition as a step toward reopening to visitors, a local official said, as authorities seek to revive the museum’s role in the governorate’s cultural life.
Mahmoud al-Najras, Executive Office member for the Culture Sector at Raqqa Governorate, said the artifacts would be placed in museum display cases ahead of the planned reopening.
Plans to reopen museum
Al-Najras made the remarks during a lecture at the museum on archaeological heritage and preservation, which highlighted artifacts in its collection as well as discoveries from archaeological sites across Raqqa Governorate.
He said some archaeological finds from Raqqa are currently housed in museums around the world.
The lecture also examined the significance of several artifacts held at the museum and the sites where they were discovered. It addressed violations and damage the museum suffered in previous years, as well as possibilities for reopening and developing it to display its collections in a modern setting despite limited resources.
Al-Najras said museums play an important role in strengthening social and national awareness, particularly among young people and school students.
He called for stronger communication between the local community and the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums and for more lectures and educational activities on the importance of archaeological sites, saying greater awareness could encourage residents living nearby to protect the sites and care for their surroundings.
Community role in heritage protection
Abdul Jabbar al-Abdullah, Director of the Antiquities and Museums Department in Raqqa, told SANA the lecture was the first organized by the department at the museum and aimed to strengthen cultural awareness among local residents and bring them closer to the department’s work.
He said cooperation with residents and neighboring communities was important for protecting archaeological sites and artifacts.
The lecture also addressed violations affecting archaeological sites, including issues involving gardens, trees and irrigation methods in their surroundings, al-Abdullah said.
He said such events combine educational, awareness-raising and social objectives by introducing residents to the museum’s collections, encouraging visits and promoting heritage as part of the community’s cultural memory.
The lecture was attended by al-Abdullah, al-Najras and a number of people interested in archaeology and heritage.
The event was held at the Raqqa Archaeological Museum because of its historical and cultural significance as a testament to the governorate’s civilizational heritage. It forms part of efforts by the Antiquities and Museums Department to restore the museum’s presence in Raqqa’s cultural life.
R.D/MF
