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Express Tribune
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Saving Iran's artefacts
During the Israel-Iran war, the countries traded missile and rocket fire that killed and injured hundreds of civilians and put the region's cultural heritage at risk. How can artefacts and historical sites be protected? As per DW, the Paris-based International Council of Museums (ICOM) had issued an emphatic warning after the first bomb strikes: There was a "growing danger" for museums and their employees. The ICOM, which consists of 8,000 museum professionals worldwide, including members from Israel and Iran, had demanded that both sides adhere to international conventions for the protection of cultural heritage, even in the event of conflict. "However, we can do no more than admonish and warn," the president of the ICOM's German National Committee, Felicia Sternfeld, told DW. Did this appeal have an impact? The news situation on the ground is thin, with only sparse information coming out of Iran in particular, as the government allows hardly any foreign journalists to enter and severely restricts the press. However, one thing seems certain: Contingency plans were activated in both countries at the start of the Israel-Iran conflict. As much as possible, experts worked to secure, remove and relocate cultural assets. It is currently unclear whether there has been any damage. Tehran museum evacuated Iran has a rich cultural heritage. This includes 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and about 840 museums, 300 of which are under the administration of the Culture Ministry. "Iran has a well-organised and professional heritage authority," Judith Thomalsky, the head of the Tehran branch of the German Archaeological Institute, said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio. Thomalsky's office has been operating from Berlin since 2023, when thousands of Iranians protested the regime and the German Federal Foreign Office withdrew staff from German institutions as a precaution. The Institute itself continues its work on the premises of the German Embassy in Tehran with local staff, and Thomalsky maintains as much contact as possible with her Iranian network. Barbara Helwing, director of the Museum of the Ancient Near East in Berlin and Thomalsky's predecessor from 2000 to 2014, is also an expert on Iran. She told German regional broadcaster RBB that she was in contact with her colleagues at the National Museum until recently; there has been occasional radio silence because the Iranian regime had shut down the Internet. "We know that the museum and its two large buildings near the Foreign Ministry have been emptied," Helwing said. She added that she has seen photos showing empty display cases. Sandbags shield exhibits The Iranian National Museum is not only the oldest but also the most important museum in Iran. Comprising two buildings with three halls each, it houses more than 300,000 archaeological finds from pre-Islamic and Islamic times, including many objects made of stone, ceramics, glass and metals. "In Iran, the relationship with cultural heritage is very close," Helwing said. The country's cultural identity is based on a long history and the awareness that the first real-world empire in history, the ancient Persian Empire (around 550 to 330 BCE), originated in Iran. According to Helwing, all portable museum objects were hastily transported into the cellars. The non-movable artefacts, mainly stone objects, were covered with sandbags to protect them from strikes and flying debris. Unlike in Israel, there are no bunkers in Iran — neither for people nor for valuable art treasures. Protecting archaeological sites that are often located in open areas has proved far more difficult. "You can't really protect them," Helwing said. "You can only hope that they are far enough away from potential targets." Taq-e Bostan in danger? According to the English-language Tehran Times, Taq-e Bostan, an archeological complex from the era of the Sasanian dynasty (224-651 CE) that includes a one-of-a-kind monumental rock relief, faces particular danger. The newspaper reported that the Israeli Air Force bombed a weapons depot just two kilometers away from the complex. The resulting shock waves and vibrations may have damaged the site, Helwing said, though she lacked more precise information. "Iran's Department of Antiquities knows what it needs to do," said Judith Thomalsky, a historian who focuses on prehistoric times and who has spent over 20 years working in Iran. She also believes that it isn't possible to protect open archaeological sites such as the Persepolis complex, the Bisotun inscriptions and Takht-e Soleyman, or "Throne of Solomon," an archaeological site. She told the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel that, though she doesn't believe that cultural assets face an acute threat, it is impossible to know how things may develop. World heritage sites are under formal protection of the international community. The 1954 Hague convention regulates the protection of cultural material in armed conflict, while the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention governs conservation of cultural assets among nations. From July 6-16, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be holding its 47th session in Paris. Among other things, experts will discuss potential future UNESCO cultural heritage sites. The session will be livestreamed.
DW
30-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Middle East's cultural treasures vulnerable to conflicts – DW – 06/30/2025
During the Israel-Iran war, the countries traded missile and rocket fire that killed and injured hundreds of civilians and put the region's cultural heritage at risk. How can artifacts and historical sites be protected? The Paris-based International Council of Museums had issued an emphatic warning after the first bomb strikes: There was a "growing danger" for museums and their employees in Israel and Iran. The ICOM, which consists of 8,000 museum professionals worldwide, including members from Israel and Iran, had demanded that both sides adhere to international conventions for the protection of cultural heritage, even in the event of conflict. "However, we can do no more than admonish and warn," the president of the ICOM's German National Committee, Felicia Sternfeld, told DW. Did this appeal have an impact? The news situation on the ground is thin, with only sparse information coming out of Iran in particular, as it allows hardly any foreign journalists to enter and severely restricts press freedom. However, one thing seems certain: Contingency plans were activated in both countries at the start of the Israel-Iran conflict. As far as possible, experts worked to secure, remove and relocate cultural assets. It is currently unclear whether despite all the warnings there has been any damage. Iran has a rich cultural heritage. This includes 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and around 840 museums, 300 of which are under the administration of the Ministry of Culture. "Iran has a well-organized and professional heritage authority," Judith Thomalsky, the head of the Tehran branch of the German Archaeological Institute, said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio. Thomalsky's office has been operating from Berlin since 2023, when thousands of Iranians protested the mullah regime and the German Federal Foreign Office withdrew staff from German institutions as a precaution. The Institute itself continues its work on the premises of the German Embassy in Tehran with local staff, and Thomalsky maintains as much contact as possible with her Iranian network. Barbara Helwing, director of the Museum of the Ancient Near East in Berlin and Thomalsky's predecessor from 2000 to 2014, is also an expert on Iran. She told German regional broadcaster RBB that she was in contact with her colleagues at the National Museum until recently; there has been occasional radio silence because the Iranian regime had shut down the Internet. "We know that the museum and its two large buildings near the Foreign Ministry have been emptied," said Helwing, adding that she has seen photos showing empty display cases. The Iranian National Museum is not only the oldest but also the most important museum in Iran. Comprising two buildings with three halls each, it houses more than 300,000 archaeological finds from pre-Islamic [before 7th century CE: Eds.] and Islamic times, including many objects made of stone, ceramics, glass and metals. "In Iran, the relationship with cultural heritage is very close," Helwing said. The country's cultural identity is based on a long history and the awareness that the first real-world empire in history, the ancient Persian Empire (around 550 to 330 BCE), originated in Iran. According to Helwing, all portable museum objects were hastily transported into the cellars. The non-movable artifacts, mainly stone objects, were covered with sandbags to protect them from strikes and flying debris. Unlike in Israel, there are no bunkers in Iran — neither for people nor for valuable art treasures. Protecting archaeological sites that are often located in open areas has proven to be far more difficult: "You can't really protect them," Helwing said, "You can only hope that they are far enough away from potential targets." According to the English-language , Taq-e Bostan, an archeological complex from the era of the Sasanian dynasty (224-651 CE) that includes a one-of-a-kind monumental rock relief, faces particular danger. The newspaper reported that the Israeli Air Force bombed a weapons depot just two kilometers away from the complex. The resulting shock waves and vibrations may have damaged the site, Helwing fears, though she lacked more precise information. "Iran's Department of Antiquities knows what it needs to do," says Judith Thomalsky, a historian who focuses on prehistoric times and who has spent over 20 years working in Iran. She also believes it isn't possible to protect open archeological sites like the Persepolis complex, the Bisotun inscriptions and Takht-e Soleyman, or "Throne of Solomon," an archeological site. She told the Berlin daily that while she doesn't believe cultural assets face an acute threat, it is impossible to know how things may develop. Institutions in Israel, for their part, activated emergency plans following the first Iranian counterattacks. For instance, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art secured its collection of Israeli and international art in underground storage, the French Magazine reported. It is planning to reopen its doors on July 3. It is already possible to visit Jerusalem's Israel Museum again, which with its 500,000 objects is one of the largest in the Middle East. The museum website informs visitors that it is equipped with safe rooms that are located in the museum in case of emergency. Israel is currently home to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the White City of Tel Aviv, a neighborhood with numerous buildings in the Bauhaus architectural style, the Masada mountaintop fortress and the Old City of Acre. "To our knowledge there has been no damage to archeological artifacts under the management of Israel Antiquities Authority, nor to objects in museums," the authority has stated, as reported by both and . World heritage sites are under formal protection of the international community. The 1954 Hague convention regulates the protection of cultural material in armed conflict, while the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention governs conservation of cultural assets among nations. From July 6-16, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be holding its 47th session in Paris. Among other things, experts will discuss potential future UNESCO cultural heritage sites. The session will be live-streamed. The Israel-Iran conflict was not on the agenda as at June 30.
DW
30-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Who's safeguarding the Middle East's cultural treasures? – DW – 06/30/2025
The recent Israel-Iran conflict saw both countries trading missiles and rockets that not only killed and injured civilians but also put the region's cultural heritage at risk. How can it be protected? The Paris-based International Council of Museums (ICOM) had issued an emphatic warning after the first bomb strikes: There was a "growing danger" for museums and their employees in Israel and Iran. The professional association, which consists of 8,000 museum professionals worldwide including members from Israel and Iran, had demanded that both sides adhere to international conventions for the protection of cultural heritage, even in the event of conflict. "However, we can do no more than admonish and warn," president of the German National Committee, Felicia Sternfeld, told Deutsche Welle. Did this appeal have an impact? The news situation on the ground is thin, with only sparse information coming out of Iran in particular, as it allows hardly any foreign journalists to enter and severely restricts press freedom. However, one thing seems certain: Contingency plans were activated in both countries at the start of the Israel-Iran conflict. As far as possible, experts worked to secure, remove and relocate cultural assets. It is currently unclear whether despite all the warnings there has been any damage. Iran has a rich cultural heritage. This includes 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and around 840 museums, 300 of which are under the administration of the Ministry of Culture. "Iran has a well-organized and professional heritage authority," Judith Thomalsky, the head of the Tehran branch of the German Archaeological Institute, said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio. Thomalsky's office has been operating from Berlin since 2023, when thousands of Iranians protested the mullah regime and the German Federal Foreign Office withdrew staff from German institutions as a precaution. The Institute itself continues its work on the premises of the German Embassy in Tehran with local staff, and Thomalsky maintains as much contact as possible with her Iranian network. Barbara Helwing, director of the Museum of the Ancient Near East in Berlin and Thomalsky's predecessor from 2000 to 2014, is also an expert on Iran. She told German regional broadcaster RBB that she was in contact with her colleagues at the National Museum until recently; there has been occasional radio silence because the Iranian regime had shut down the Internet. "We know that the museum and its two large buildings near the Foreign Ministry have been emptied," said Helwing, adding that she has seen photos showing empty display cases. The Iranian National Museum is not only the oldest but also the most important museum in Iran. Comprising two buildings with three halls each, it houses more than 300,000 archaeological finds from pre-Islamic [before 7th century CE: Eds.] and Islamic times, including many objects made of stone, ceramics, glass and metals. "In Iran, the relationship with cultural heritage is very close," Helwing said. The country's cultural identity is based on a long history and the awareness that the first real-world empire in history, the ancient Persian Empire (around 550 to 330 BCE), originated in Iran. According to Helwing, all portable museum objects were hastily transported into the cellars. The non-movable artifacts, mainly stone objects, were covered with sandbags to protect them from strikes and flying debris. Unlike in Israel, there are no bunkers in Iran — neither for people nor for valuable art treasures. Protecting archaeological sites that are often located in open areas has proven to be far more difficult: "You can't really protect them," Helwing said, "You can only hope that they are far enough away from potential targets." According to the English-language , Taq-e Bostan, an archeological complex from the era of the Sasanian dynasty (224-651 CE) that includes a one-of-a-kind monumental rock relief, faces particular danger. The newspaper reported that the Israeli Air Force bombed a weapons depot just two kilometers away from the complex. The resulting shock waves and vibrations may have damaged the site, Helwing fears, though she lacked more precise information. "Iran's Department of Antiquities knows what it needs to do," says Judith Thomalsky, a historian who focuses on prehistoric times and who has spent over 20 years working in Iran. She also believes it isn't possible to protect open archeological sites like the Persepolis complex, the Bisotun inscriptions and Takht-e Soleyman, or "Throne of Solomon," an archeological site. She told the Berlin daily that while she doesn't believe cultural assets face an acute threat, it is impossible to know how things may develop. Institutions in Israel, for their part, activated emergency plans following the first Iranian counterattacks. For instance, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art secured its collection of Israeli and international art in underground storage, the French Magazine reported. It is planning to reopen its doors on July 3. It is already possible to visit Jerusalem's Israel Museum again, which with its 500,000 objects is one of the largest in the Middle East. The museum website informs visitors that it is equipped with safe rooms that are located in the museum in case of emergency. Israel is currently home to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the White City of Tel Aviv, a neighborhood with numerous buildings in the Bauhaus architectural style, the Masada mountaintop fortress and the Old City of Acre. "To our knowledge there has been no damage to archeological artifacts under the management of Israel Antiquities Authority, nor to objects in museums," the authority has stated, as reported by both and . World heritage sites are under formal protection of the international community. The 1954 Hague convention regulates the protection of cultural material in armed conflict, while the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention governs conservation of cultural assets among nations. From July 6-16, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be holding its 47th session in Paris. Among other things, experts will discuss potential future UNESCO cultural heritage sites. The session will be live-streamed. The Israel-Iran conflict was not on the agenda as at June 30.
Emirates 24/7
19-05-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Latifa bint Mohammed highlights the vital role of museums in preserving heritage, fostering creativity, and promoting cultural exchange
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), highlighted the vital role of museums as dynamic spaces that preserve heritage, foster creativity, and promote cultural exchange. Speaking on the occasion of International Museum Day 2025, she said: 'Museums are living spaces of memory and imagination connecting generations, bridging cultures, and offering us a deeper understanding of who we are and who we can become. They remind us that identity is not fixed in time but shaped by discovery and exchange.' Expressing Dubai's pride in hosting the 27th ICOM General Conference, a landmark event that will bring together museum professionals from around the world in November 2025 to engage in dialogue on the most pressing challenges facing the sector, she underscored the power of museums to shape evolving identities through discovery and exchange. 'As Dubai prepares to host the 27th ICOM General Conference — the first in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region — we do so with immense pride and purpose. We are welcoming the global museum community into the heart of our heritage and the rhythm of our creative movement,' she said. Commenting on the theme of the global event, 'The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities', Her Highness noted its powerful relevance to our time: 'It challenges us to reimagine museums as dynamic spaces that respond to the pace of change and remain rooted in the people they serve, a vision we have embraced in Dubai. Our museums are evolving to become centres of learning and creativity, sparking curiosity and empowering new generations to carry stories forward.' 'More than a defining milestone for our cultural sector, hosting ICOM is a celebration for the UAE. It is an invitation to contribute to the global museum dialogue with the voices, perspectives, and ideas of our region, reflecting our nation's enduring commitment to cultural exchange and building bridges that connect heritage with humanity's shared future.' 'We are honoured to take part in this shared mission and look forward to forging new connections that will inspire generations to come and champion our voice in shaping the global cultural narrative,' Her Highness concluded. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Raja dinkar kelkar museum launches multilingual digital audio guide
Pune: To mark on May 18, the in Pune unveiled a multilingual smart digital audio guide, offering visitors a fresh, immersive experience through its eight galleries. Developed in Marathi, Hindi, and English, the audio guide responds to a global call by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), which urged cultural institutions to celebrate the day with initiatives centered on the theme "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " "This isn't just a guide to exhibits, it's a layered narrative," said Sudhanva Ranade, museologist and director of the museum. "It took us nearly six months to complete, and it covers everything from the story of how this museum came into being to the extraordinary vision of its founder. Visitors will now be able to experience all eight galleries in the museum through a fresh, immersive lens." The initiative was inaugurated by Sonali Deshpande, chairperson of persistent systems, who became the first visitor to take the audio tour. The guide, which is accessible via a simple QR code scan, walks users through 35 specially curated artefacts. High-quality audio explains each object's history, material, function, and cultural context. Cloud-powered and mobile-driven, the system is designed for use on personal smartphones. It incorporates geofencing technology, ensuring the guide functions only within museum premises. "Visitors can begin their journey the moment they scan the QR code on the standee at the entrance," said Ranade. "The content is multilingual, and we are working on adding more languages such as German, Russian, Japanese, and other regional Indian languages so that international and non-Maharashtrian or Hindi-speaking visitors can share the knowledge." Developed in collaboration with Persistent Foundation and Glorytel Digital LLP, with active participation from the museum's staff, the project reflects the institution's commitment to innovation, research, and accessibility. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "This is a homegrown innovation," Ranade said. "Our team put in extensive effort to ensure authenticity and historical accuracy. The goal was to move beyond static displays and offer storytelling that truly brings the artefacts to life." In addition to providing rich information about the artefacts, the guide features social media integration, allowing visitors to share photos, tag the museum, and offer real-time feedback. Founded in 1962 by Dinkar Gangadhar Kelkar, the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum in Shukrawar Peth houses over 20,000 artefacts, with around 2,500 currently on display. From musical instruments and lamps to intricate sculptures and everyday household items, the collection offers a window into pre-industrial Indian life. "We've requested our tech partners to support us further as we move toward developing a state-of-the-art Museum City in Bavdhan," said Ranade. "By merging this heritage with technology, the museum will continue to educate and inspire a new generation of visitors locally and globally."
