3 November 2025
ACOR is honored to announce the inaugural Professor Thomas W. Davis Annual Lecture:
Prof. Dr. Anas Haj Zeidan, director general of the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) of the Syrian Arab Republic, will present “Illicit Trafficking of Syrian Cultural Properties: Trading Methods and Challenges of Restitution.” In addition to addressing the role of the DGAM in documentation processes for cultural properties, this lecture will cover penalties for trafficking under the current Syrian Antiquities Law, the status of antiquities outside Syria, and the roles of Customs and the Ministry of Interior in the protection of cultural property.
Prof. Dr. Zeidan will give his lecture in Arabic. Live translation into English will be available for both in-person and online attendees. The presentation, which may be attended in person or via Zoom, will be followed by a Q&A session.
Date: November 30, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. Amman Time/10 a.m. EST
Place: American Center of Research, Amman (click for directions)
Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85109318945?pwd=r6wBkv3iyOOjUW0krsPSfAYcp80hac.1
Webinar ID: 851 0931 8945| Passcode 212529
YouTube livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/@ACORJordan1968
About the Speaker
Prof. Dr. Anas Haj Zeidan earned his master’s degree in the conservation of antiquities from the University of Florence and his PhD in Near Eastern archaeology from the Sapienza University of Rome. His research interests, which he presents in academic publications and media appearances, focus on the protection of Syrian cultural heritage, particularly in conflict-affected areas. He lectures at several Syrian universities and has made notable contributions to archaeological missions and scholarly publications related to cultural heritage preservation, as well as to nomination projects of Syrian sites for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Formerly the head of the Idlib Antiquities Department, he now serves as director general of the Syrian Arab Republic’s Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM).
About the Professor Thomas W. Davis Annual Lecture:
In honor of trustee, scholar, and long-time supporter of ACOR Tom Davis, in 2025 the ACOR Board of Trustees created the “Professor Thomas W. Davis Lecture.” The most prestigious lecture of our annual series, these lectures generally focus on the “interconnections” aspect of ACOR’s mission. Prof. Thomas W. Davis (1956–2025) was a prominent scholar of the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia. Professor Davis served on ACOR’s board of trustees (2020–2025) and as chair of the Publications Committee during our most prolific publishing era. To read more about this lecture series, please visit its webpage.