Erasing the Past: Da'esh and the Crisis of Antiquities Destruction, Davis Museum, Wellesley College, September 24, 2015

The ongoing crisis in Iraq and Syria poses unprecedented and conflicting challenges for scholars of antiquity. The Islamic State (Da’esh) uses dramatic images of the destruction of cultural artifacts as a focal element of its self-presentation. At the same time, ad hoc excavations and clandestine trade in antiquities are being used to fund the group's activities. Scholars and cultural heritage specialists must walk a fine line between educating the public about the scope of the devastation and preventing themselves from being used to amplify Da’esh’s propaganda.

On September 24, an international group of archaeologists, epigraphers, curators, lawyers, political scientists and journalists will convene at Wellesley College to address this unfolding tragedy. This conference will provide a cross-disciplinary forum where specialists working on particular facets of this crisis can meet, learn from one another and develop effective strategies. The panel will provide a platform for informing the public about the scope of this tragedy and educating one another about how best to advocate for threatened scholars, artifacts and cultural institutions.