Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria's Director-General of Antiquities and Museums, holds an ancient vase retrieved from the northeast city of Deir Ezzor.
Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria's Director-General of Antiquities and Museums, holds an ancient vase retrieved from the northeast city of Deir Ezzor.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN
Abdulkarim leads a team trying to prevent Syria's cultural heritage from being destroyed. Earlier this year they managed to rescue hundreds of Roman busts from Palmyra before ISIS seized the ancient city.
Abdulkarim leads a team trying to prevent Syria's cultural heritage from being destroyed. Earlier this year they managed to rescue hundreds of Roman busts from Palmyra before ISIS seized the ancient city.
COURTESY Maamoun Abdulkarim
Abdulkarim's team evacuated every artifact from the National Museum of Damascus as the war closed in on the capital several years ago.
Abdulkarim's team evacuated every artifact from the National Museum of Damascus as the war closed in on the capital several years ago.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN
In the courtyard of the museum, concrete covers have been constructed around ancient sculptures to protect them from shelling.
In the courtyard of the museum, concrete covers have been constructed around ancient sculptures to protect them from shelling.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN
Not all of the sarcophagi have been covered in concrete yet, and the garden has been hit several times by mortar rounds in recent years.
Not all of the sarcophagi have been covered in concrete yet, and the garden has been hit several times by mortar rounds in recent years.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN
At a building inside the museum compound, dozens of volunteers catalog the tens of thousands of artifacts that Abdulkarim's team has managed to evacuate from various places in Syria.
At a building inside the museum compound, dozens of volunteers catalog the tens of thousands of artifacts that Abdulkarim's team has managed to evacuate from various places in Syria.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN
This Roman statue was rescued from Palmyra ahead of ISIS' advance earlier this year.
This Roman statue was rescued from Palmyra ahead of ISIS' advance earlier this year.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN
The team evacuated 35,000 artifacts from Deir Ezzor alone. Each one is photographed and given a catalog number.
The team evacuated 35,000 artifacts from Deir Ezzor alone. Each one is photographed and given a catalog number.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN
This fragment dates back to around 2,000 BC during the Mesopotamian era.
This fragment dates back to around 2,000 BC during the Mesopotamian era.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN
After being photographed and numbered, these priceless artifacts are shipped away to secret and safe locations across the country.
After being photographed and numbered, these priceless artifacts are shipped away to secret and safe locations across the country.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN/CNN