By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/islamic-state-group-beheads-archaeologist-syria Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Islamic State group beheads prominent archaeologist in Syria World Aug 19, 2015 10:59 AM EDT Islamic State militants reportedly beheaded a prominent archaeologist in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, and put his body on display. Khaled al-Asaad, 81, was “one of the most important pioneers in Syrian archaeology in the 20th century,” said Syria’s director of antiquities Maamoun Abdul Karim. Al-Asaad had refused to give up the locations of archaeological treasurers and two chests of gold the militants thought were hidden in the city, said Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Islamic State group took control of Palmyra in May as part of its efforts to establish a “caliphate.” The group had ransacked antiquities sites in Iraq earlier in the year. Tourists visit the historical city of Palmyra, Syria, on April 14, 2007. Islamic State fighters in Syria took over the city in May 2015. Photo by Nour Fourat/Reuters Palmyra is a 2,000-year-old Roman-era city that is designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Al-Asaad had been held by the militants for a month before he was killed. A sign on his body called him a “director of idolatory” who “attended infidel conferences.” Watch a May 19, 2015, PBS NewsHour report on the toll the war in Syria is taking on its cultural heritage sites. Follow @NewsHourWorld We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
Islamic State militants reportedly beheaded a prominent archaeologist in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, and put his body on display. Khaled al-Asaad, 81, was “one of the most important pioneers in Syrian archaeology in the 20th century,” said Syria’s director of antiquities Maamoun Abdul Karim. Al-Asaad had refused to give up the locations of archaeological treasurers and two chests of gold the militants thought were hidden in the city, said Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Islamic State group took control of Palmyra in May as part of its efforts to establish a “caliphate.” The group had ransacked antiquities sites in Iraq earlier in the year. Tourists visit the historical city of Palmyra, Syria, on April 14, 2007. Islamic State fighters in Syria took over the city in May 2015. Photo by Nour Fourat/Reuters Palmyra is a 2,000-year-old Roman-era city that is designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Al-Asaad had been held by the militants for a month before he was killed. A sign on his body called him a “director of idolatory” who “attended infidel conferences.” Watch a May 19, 2015, PBS NewsHour report on the toll the war in Syria is taking on its cultural heritage sites. Follow @NewsHourWorld We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now