ABSTRACT
Conflict is arguably an integral part of human interaction, and archaeological studies have provided evidence for conflict from at least the Palaeolithic onwards. Conflicts have occurred throughout prehistory and history, and conflict is an unavoidable evil in many parts of the world, often impacting on all aspects of human life and culture. Many archaeological and heritage sites are known to have sustained damage in antiquity –not just by conflict, but by disasters such as earthquakes–and this seamlessly becomes part of the site history, and is treated as such by archaeologists. That modern conflict acted upon a site somehow renders it beyond or unworthy of academic investigation is not an approach we can reconcile. The conflict in Syria has seen a great deal of deliberate damage to archaeological and heritage sites, and this has been the focus of a good share of both media and academic attention. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
