125Qadesh/Photo: Creative Commonts, Wikipedia

Qadesh (Tell Nebi Mend) قادشHoms Governorate

Satellite-based Damage Asessment to Historial Sites in Syria

125

Site Description

The main site within this area is the site of Qadesh (also known as Tell Nebi Mend). The earliest part of the site is approximately 9,000 years old and arose as a major Bronze Age city, although later phases of set-tlement surround the main mound and the site has been extensively excavated. The area reviewed also covers the ancient fort known as Tell Nebi Noah and both the Prehistoric and Roman Sites of Arjoune Qadesh is the site of one of the most famous battles in ancient history between the Egyptians and the Hittites. The Pharoah Ramesses II had inscriptions written concerning the battle:

“His majesty reached the town of Kadesh[...] His majesty had formed the first ranks of battle of all the leaders of his army, while they were (still) on the shore.”(i)

He describes the fighting further: “No officer was with me, no char-ioteer, no soldier of the army, no shield-bearer[…] I was before them like Set in his moment. I found the mass of chariots in whose midst I was, scattering them before my horses.”(ii) Ultimately, both sides claimed victory.

QADESH

Qadesh Damage Level (Number of Heritage Locations)

00 1DESTROYED SEVERE DAMAGE MODERATE DAMAGE POSSIBLE DAMAGE

0

DESTROYEDSTRUCTURE

DESTROYEDSTRUCTURE

DESTROYEDSTRUCTURE

(Only remnents of foundation remain)

DESTROYED/PARTIALLY COLLAPSED

STRUCTURE

STRUCTURE HAS BEEN REMOVED

PARTIAL DAMAGE TO ROOF OF STRUCTURE

DESTROYEDSTRUCTURE

SEVERE DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE. ROOF

DAMAGE OBSERVED IN RIGHT SECTION OF

STRUCTURE

MILITARYBERM

SEVERE DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE

PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF STRUCTURE

PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF STRUCTURE

/ ROOF COMPLETELY DESTROYED

NEW ROAD (approx. 350 m)

SEVERE DAMAGETO STRUCTURE

STRUCTURE / RUINLIKELY DESTROYED

SEVERE DAMAGETO STRUCTURE

SECTIONS OF ROOF MISSING

STRUCTURE PARTIALLY

DESTROYED

WALL AREA(approx. 5,300 m2)

MODERN STRUCTURE PARTIALLY

DESTROYED

SECTIONS OF ROOF MISSING

ROOF OF STRUCTURE SEVERELY DAMAGE / TOP LEFT SECTION

HAS COLLAPSED

ROOF OF STRUCTURE SEVERELY DAMAGE / ROOF APPEARS TO HAVE PARTIALLY COLLAPSED

EXCAVATION TRENCH FILL IN

MODERN STRUCTURE DAMAGED

May 20, 2014

FIGURE 78. Extensive damage to Qadesh.

127

Satellite-based Damage Asessment to Historial Sites in Syria

126

(i) Pritchard, J. 1969, p.255–256 [1] (ii) Lichtheim, M. 1976, p.65 [2](iii) Report on the webpage of the The Association for the Protection of Syrian Archaeology [3]

December 23, 2011

FIGURE 79. Qadesh before damage ocurred.

Status Overview

No damage is visible at Tell Nebi Noah or Arjoune. However, there has been heavy fighting at Tell Nebi Mend. Most of the mod-ern village on top of the tell and in the lower town to the south have been destroyed or severely damaged, some down to their foundations. Those buildings still standing are partially collapsed.

This level of destruction likely caused damage to the site itself, though to what extent is unknown as the imagery is unclear. A new track has been dug into the northwest side of the tell, measuring 350 m in length. At the northern end of the tell, the road through the village has been extended to reach the large walled emplacement that has been built (5,300 m2 in length). The excavations in this area have been filled in (see figures 78 and 79). These date to 1921 - 22, but were cleared in 1975. Sufficient enough time has elapsed for them to have been thinly covered by 2010, hopefully protecting them. These works will have dis-turbed the archaeological areas.

Although the exact date is unknown, a news report was released of the installation of heavy weapons on the tell in 2012 and heavy fighting in 2013.(iii)

NOTEThis report provides a detailed analysis of significant changes to the cultural heritage of this site resulting from the ongoing conflict in Syria. World View satellite imagery acquired on 23 December 2011 and 20 May 2014 was used for this report.

Satellite-based Damage Asessment to Historial Sites in Syria

127

Satellite-based Damage Asessment to Historial Sites in Syria