How Archaeologists Dared to Defy ISIS and Save Priceless Treasures

Brave archaeologists risked their lives to save thousands of historic treasures from imminent destruction by Islamic State terrorists.

A new study reveals how they rescued around 30,000 “priceless” artefacts from the Deir ez-Zor Museum as the city faced imminent capture by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Deir ez-Zor is the capital of the province of the same name in Syria, and the region contains key oil and gas fields, making it a fiercely contested battleground during Syria’s 15-year civil war.