Damascus, Sept. 28 (SANA) Syria’s Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums and a Saudi expert delegation discussed expanding cooperation in Damascus, southern Syria, on museum archives, digital databases and heritage protection, with proposed projects aimed at improving documentation, tracking and access to archaeological collections.
The talks were held Saturday at the directorate’s headquarters and brought together Director-General of Antiquities and Museums Dr. Masoud Badawi and a Saudi delegation headed by Dr. Saeed al-Ahmari, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Desert Rectangles Archaeology Company.
Badawi told SANA that the meeting was part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange expertise in archaeology and museum work.
The proposed cooperation covers three main areas: standardizing archival practices, developing unified museum databases and creating a shared information network linking archaeological and museum institutions across Syria.
Three areas of archaeological and museum cooperation
Badawi said the first area focuses on archiving and on bringing greater consistency to the standards and methods used to catalogue archaeological documents and museum collections.
Such standardization, he said, would help ensure that records and objects are preserved and organized in an accurate and systematic way.
The second area involves developing unified museum information systems to make collections easier to classify, document and retrieve.
The third focuses on establishing a shared digital network connecting archaeological and museum institutions in Syria, allowing data and professional expertise to be exchanged directly and on a continuing basis.
A digital record for every archaeological object
Badawi said one of the most important potential outcomes would be the creation of a comprehensive digital record for each archaeological object.
The record would include information on an object’s origin, history and condition, as well as photographs and accompanying documentation.
He said such systems could strengthen heritage protection by creating unified databases and precise tracking mechanisms for museum collections.
That, in turn, could help authorities identify the loss, damage or attempted smuggling of artifacts at an earlier stage and improve cooperation in efforts to recover stolen or trafficked antiquities.
For museums and archaeological institutions, the value of such records goes beyond inventory management. A detailed digital history can preserve information about an object even when the object itself is moved, damaged or temporarily inaccessible, helping safeguard part of the cultural memory attached to it.
Faster access for researchers
Badawi said a shared information network would give researchers, specialists and relevant institutions faster and more accurate access to data.
A unified database would support comparative studies and archaeological research while giving specialists a clearer picture of collections held across different institutions.
Standardized and updated data could also support decision-making by helping authorities assess the condition of archaeological collections and develop plans for protection, rehabilitation and tourism investment on a documented basis.
The discussions come as digital documentation increasingly becomes part of the work of preserving museum collections and archaeological records.
By linking documentation, protection and research, the proposed cooperation could help build more integrated heritage-information systems while preserving archaeological knowledge and cultural memory for future generations.
N.J/R.K