Archaeologists in eastern Libya are racing to protect the UNESCO-listed ruins of Cyrene and Apollonia, ancient Greek cities founded over 2,600 years ago, after years of conflict and devastating natural disasters placed the ancient sites at increasing risk. During the civil unrest that followed Muammar Gaddafi’s 2011 overthrow, museum staff and local residents protected thousands of priceless artifacts by hiding statues, coins, and historical records from potential looting. Disaster struck again in 2023 when Storm Daniel caused catastrophic flooding, damaging structures across both sites. Restoration teams have spent months rebuilding collapsed structures and recovering newly uncovered artifacts, including ancient engravings and funerary offerings. They hope to reopen parts of Cyrene by September. However, rising sea levels now threaten Apollonia, where roughly one-third of the ancient city has already disappeared beneath the Mediterranean. Archaeologists are urging Libya’s rival governments to prioritize protecting these irreplaceable cultural treasures before further damage occurs.
Africanews