THEORY AND HISTORY OF CONSERVATION 1 Keywords: illicit trafficking, archaeo- logical conservation, national identity, Syria ABSTRACT This paper discusses the evolution of the con- servation profession in Syria and the current development of the discipline as viewed by conservation professionals and academics involved in conservation practice and train- ing of Syrian museum professionals. This evolution can be seen as a reflection of the maturing national identity of the peoples in the south-eastern Mediterranean region and of the growing awareness and shift of ethics and values in both archaeology and conser- vation. The recent expansion of tourism in the Levant and especially of cultural tourism and the escalating visit rates at museums and sites in Syria necessitate the adoption of a new strategy towards the consolidation of the profession and its foundation at an aca- demic and scientific level. RÉSUMÉ Cet article discute de l’évolution de la profes- sion de la conservation-restauration en Syrie et de l’actuel développement de la discipline, d’après les professionnels de la conservation- restauration et les universitaires engagés dans la pratique de la conservation-restauration et la formation des professionnels de musées syriens. Cette évolution peut être regardée comme le reflet d’une identité nationale parvenue à maturation pour les peuples de la région du sud-est de la Méditerranée, pa- rallèlement à une prise de conscience et une évolution de la déontologie et des valeurs tant en archéologie qu’en conservation-res- tauration. Le récent développement du tou- risme au Levant, et notamment du tourisme culturel, ainsi que l’augmentation exponen- tielle des taux de fréquentation des musées et des sites de la Syrie nécessitent l’adoption d’une nouvelle stratégie visant le renforce- STEFANIA CHLOUVERAKI* European Centre for Byzantine and Post Byzantine Monuments Thessaloniki, Greece schlouveraki@gmail.com www.ekbmm.gr FLORA KARAGIANI European Centre for Byzantine and Post Byzantine Monuments Thessaloniki, Greece karagianni@ekbmm.gr www.ekbmm.gr KATERINA MALEA Technological Educational Institute of Athens Athens, Greece kmalea@otenet.gr www.teiath.gr STAVROULA RAPTI Technological Educational Institute of Athens Athens, Greece srapti@teiath.gr www.teiath.gr MAHER AZAR Ministry of Culture Damascus, Syria azarce@scs-net.org MAJD HJAZY Department of Antiquities Hama, Syria majd_hjazi@hotmail.com GEORGIOS PANAGIARIS Technological Educational Institute of Athens Athens, Greece gpanag@teiath.gr www.teiath.gr *Author for correspondence THE CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE AS A FACTOR IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY: CASE STUDIES OF HELLENIC CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN HAMA (SYRIA) INTRODUCTION The evolution of the conservation discipline is interrelated with the history of archaeology and the advancements that took place in archaeological research over the last century. In the south-eastern Mediterranean region archaeology was practiced for several decades under colonial regime, focused mainly on the collection of antiquities for the museums of the West. Under these circumstances, there was no ground for the development of conservation philosophies and/or practices. On the contrary, conservation was suppressed and its absence provided a good argument for the transfer of antiquities to the West, where conservation laboratories had already been established by the end of the 19th century. The major shift in the archaeological approach towards the study of historical and socio-anthropological issues was almost parallel to the formation of the postcolonial sovereign states. As Trigger points out, ‘the spread of archaeology as a locally-based activity throughout the world appears to correlate with the emergence of nation states within the modern world-system’ (Trigger 1984a, 357). Archaeology became a significant topic and played an important role in the construction of national identity. Yet today, cultural heritage connects people with their past and the historical continuity of their culture, and enforces social responsibility for its preservation (Loosley 2005, Kohl 1998). The new meaning of archaeology, the expansion of archaeological research and the scientific innovations in the field created a fertile ground for the development of the conservation discipline and the maturing of its philosophies and principles. At present, the conservation and management of cultural heritage is also linked to the growing tourist industry in the region and the development of cultural tourism, and it is perceived as a factor in economic development. IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM: EXPORT AND TRADE OF ANTIQUITIES IN THE PAST The south-eastern Mediterranean countries are the main historic victim-countries that suffer from looting and illicit trafficking of their archaeological treasures. The trade of antiquities in the Levant dates back to the 18th century, when European travelers and explorers drew the attention of European tourism to this region by expressing their admiration for the ruins of the past in their writings. The commencement of tourism in