4 Libyan Archaeological Treasures That May Succumb Due to Violence
Although the civil war in Libya has ended, the country still suffers from the consequences of the revolution, with attacks and actions organized by militias being quite common. Although the current government is trying to contain violence and curb the entry of weapons into its territory, the success of these activities is - unfortunately - only moderate. And one group (among many others) affected by this sad imbalance is archaeologists.
During the war, experts from around the world created a list containing the coordinates of Libyan archaeological sites to prevent them from being bombed. However, now that the conflict is over, countless archaeologists have been banned from returning to work and security, and the historical treasures are at constant risk of being attacked by looters and armed rebels.
Back to work vetoed
Libya has a huge archaeological treasure, as countless cultures have flourished or occupied the region throughout history. Thus, in addition to important prehistoric sites located along the Mediterranean coast, it is also possible to find ruins of ancient Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Punic and Berber settlements throughout the country. And among these ruins, there are five that have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Check out some of the most amazing sites in Libya, and see why archaeologists around the world are desperate to get back to work and preserve these fantastic open-air museums:
1 - Tadrart Acacus
Coordinates: 24 ° 50 '0 ″ N, 10 ° 20' 0 ″ E.
The Tadrart Acacus is a rock formation that is part of the Sahara, and its archaeological importance is due to thousands of cave paintings scattered throughout its caves, some dating from 12, 000 BC. In addition to the risks related to violence, these delicate designs are also under threat due to the oil drilling techniques used in the area.
2 - Sabratha
Coordinates: 32 ° 48 '19.01 ″ N, 12 ° 29' 6 ″ E.
The city of Sabratha was built by the Romans on the shores of the Mediterranean 2, 000 years ago, and was one of the most important trading posts in the region. Today, the most outstanding building in the set is the old theater, which had a capacity of 5, 000 people. In addition, several mosaics were found throughout the city.
3 - Leptis Magna
Coordinates: 32 ° 38 '17.99 ″ N, 14 ° 17' 35.02 ″ E.
Founded by the Phoenicians around the year 1, 100 BC, Leptis Magna changed hands several times throughout its history, being occupied by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Numidians, and eventually by the Romans after the Third Punic War in 146 BC. In the 11th century, the city was occupied by an Arab group who left it on their own shortly after.
The site was once described as "the most beautiful city in the Roman Empire", but after being abandoned by the Arabs, Leptis Magna was eventually buried in the sands. Surprisingly, the city has been rediscovered by archaeologists, and some of its structures - such as an artificial port built by Nero - remain intact.
4 - Cyrene
Coordinates: 32 ° 49 '0 ″ N, 21 ° 51' 0 ″ E.
This ancient Greek city - unfortunately - was destroyed in the first century due to a severe earthquake that struck the region and was abandoned. However, in 2005 a group of Italian archaeologists discovered 76 intact statues, which were protected under a wall that collapsed during the earthquake for over 1, 600 years. In addition to these pieces, Cyrene also has a huge necropolis, several other statues and temples on its edge.
