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Looks like the Antiquities Coalition is misrepresenting threats to Middle Eastern antiquities again -- this time for a GIS audience. https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/blog/maps-take-aim-at-antiquities-looters/
One of the main points of this article is to insist on ISIS’s unique role in antiquities looting.
Never mind that multiple analyses have shown that most looting in Syria was *not* conducted by ISIS https://hyperallergic.com/415471/how-antiquities-have-been-weaponized-in-the-struggle-to-preserve-culture/
Never mind that multiple analyses have shown that most looting in Syria was *not* conducted by ISIS https://hyperallergic.com/415471/how-antiquities-have-been-weaponized-in-the-struggle-to-preserve-culture/
It starts with the obligatory lead image of Palmyra -- misleading since there was significant looting at Palmyra by multiple groups. https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/blog/maps-take-aim-at-antiquities-looters/
For more on multiple groups conducting looting at Palmyra, see @conflictantiq -- for instance: https://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/2015/07/03/palmyra-looting-rebels-regime-islamic-state-propaganda/
We get a version of the idea that ISIS introduced looting on an "industrial scale" -- an idea that's popped up several times before.
Of course, *all* sides of the Syrian civil war appear to have been involved with looting on an industrial scale, but ISIS is singled out.
Of course, *all* sides of the Syrian civil war appear to have been involved with looting on an industrial scale, but ISIS is singled out.
But note the way this is phrased: it is not technically wrong to say this happened "at the height of ISIS control", since it doesn't say it was done only by ISIS.
But of course it implies -- and anyone unaware who is reading this will infer -- that ISIS was the main culprit.
But of course it implies -- and anyone unaware who is reading this will infer -- that ISIS was the main culprit.
Just one sentence here (the 2nd one) on how much ISIS profited from antiquities looting contains at least 3 errors -- all exaggerating the amount of money ISIS made.
As @cwjones89 points out here, this was a 6-month period (not 3-month)
Not a single (archaeological) site but an entire province
And ISIS collected $265k (the $1.25 million is estimated *total value* of the antiquities based on ISIS collecting 20%)
https://gatesofnineveh.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/how-much-money-is-isis-making-from-antiquities-looting/
Not a single (archaeological) site but an entire province
And ISIS collected $265k (the $1.25 million is estimated *total value* of the antiquities based on ISIS collecting 20%)
https://gatesofnineveh.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/how-much-money-is-isis-making-from-antiquities-looting/
Note the focus on non-state terrorist groups:
“Insurgent groups” in Yemen – compare elsewhere where AC has focused exclusively on Houthis and Al Qaeda; but Saudi-allied groups also loot (and have been ignored by AC)
“Insurgent groups” in Yemen – compare elsewhere where AC has focused exclusively on Houthis and Al Qaeda; but Saudi-allied groups also loot (and have been ignored by AC)
The "largest cultural crisis since World War II" is something we've seen before. As I've written, a characterization initially applied to looting by *all* sides in Syria quickly gets used exclusively for ISIS looting.
In the current piece it's for insurgents and terrorists.
In the current piece it's for insurgents and terrorists.
Most importantly, "terrorism" is a loaded word.
It is typically used to mean "non-state actors we don’t like".
But when *all* sides in Syria, including Assad, Russia, & Turkey have been associated w/ looting, & used it to fund further conflict, why single out "terrorists"?
It is typically used to mean "non-state actors we don’t like".
But when *all* sides in Syria, including Assad, Russia, & Turkey have been associated w/ looting, & used it to fund further conflict, why single out "terrorists"?
But the most misleading talking point is "The looting & trafficking in ISIS-occupied territory was so immense, it could be seen from space"
We know all sides have looted in Syria because *all* of it is visible from space -- that's how it's been studied!
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0188589
We know all sides have looted in Syria because *all* of it is visible from space -- that's how it's been studied!
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0188589
When you have high-resolution satellite imagery (with spatial resolution under 1m), pretty much *everything* is visible from space!
This is a meaningless point . . . and yet it's used to single ISIS out. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0188589
This is a meaningless point . . . and yet it's used to single ISIS out. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0188589
Then we have the example given, a version of the often-used before and after views of Dura-Europos with looting holes.
Here is the caption, emphasizing the "ISIS-led looting"
Here is the caption, emphasizing the "ISIS-led looting"
But, again as @conflictantiq has shown, there was already massive looting at Dura *before* ISIS took over.
In fact, most of the looting may have been done by the Free Syrian Army. https://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/syria-islamic-state-free-syrian-army-paramilitary-funding-dura-europos/
In fact, most of the looting may have been done by the Free Syrian Army. https://conflictantiquities.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/syria-islamic-state-free-syrian-army-paramilitary-funding-dura-europos/
Note that all of these errors go in the same direction: they exaggerate the extent of ISIS looting, to put most blame on ISIS (or other "terrorists" or "insurgents").
We should stop and ask why that is. https://hyperallergic.com/415471/how-antiquities-have-been-weaponized-in-the-struggle-to-preserve-culture/
We should stop and ask why that is. https://hyperallergic.com/415471/how-antiquities-have-been-weaponized-in-the-struggle-to-preserve-culture/
One more note on the *IT'S VISIBLE FROM SPACE* claim above.
Just last month, media critic @adamjohnsonNYC showed how such claims are ridiculous but can be used effectively in propaganda https://twitter.com/adamjohnsonNYC/status/1238733228179165184
Just last month, media critic @adamjohnsonNYC showed how such claims are ridiculous but can be used effectively in propaganda https://twitter.com/adamjohnsonNYC/status/1238733228179165184
