Wars do more than destroy buildings — they can erase centuries of human memory. From ancient monuments and museums to irreplaceable heritage sites, historic treasures are increasingly caught in the crossfire. As conflicts intensify around the world, experts warn that priceless artefacts, cultural landmarks and shared history could disappear forever, leaving future generations with only fragments of the past.


How modern war is systematically erasing human history 

Worsening wildfires, soaring heatwaves and rising water levels have prompted Greek officials to take a closer look at protecting priceless archaeological sites that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

The monuments, scattered across the country, earn Greece millions of dollars in tourism revenue.

But many of the sites are in rural areas and officials believe better planning is needed in case large crowds of tourists need to be evacuated in an emergency.



Greece's Ancient Sites Under Climate Strain; 19 Sites at Urgent Climate Risk

Traces of hundreds of monuments, which were previously unknown, have been identified in an archaeological survey. Amongst these monuments, five of them have been found to be "incredibly rare" prehistoric structures which once may have the hidden "routes for the dead" into the afterlife.

Traces of hundreds of monuments, which were previously unknown, have been identified in an archaeological survey. Amongst these monuments, five of them have been found to be "incredibly rare" prehistoric structures which once may have the hidden "routes for the dead" into the afterlife. The survey was conducted by the University of Aberdeen Department of Archaeology's James O'Driscoll, with the use of LiDAR technology. O'Driscoll carried out the survey in the Baltinglass landscape of County Wicklow, Ireland which is dotted with prehistoric remains and the results were published in the journal Antiquity. LiDAR is a type of remote-sensing method in which laser pulses are fired towards the ground to generate 3D models of a specific landscape. Also Read: Archaeologists discover long-lost 5,000-year-old copper age cemetery in Italy The method is useful in mapping the topography of the land and also revealing any hidden man-made features which is generally not visible to the naked eyes. Speaking to Newsweek, the researcher said, "I have been working on the Baltinglass landscape for over a decade. It formed the core component of my PhD." "While my PhD focused on targeted geophysical and remote sensing surveys and excavations, what was sorely missing was a large-scale topographical model of the landscape, which would not only help to knit together all of the research that had previously been undertaken, but also help to discover new archaeological sites that were either hidden under trees and scrub overgrowth, or had been mostly levelled by thousands of years of ploughing," he added. Discovery of five 'cursus' monuments The survey's "most significant" findings were a group of five unknown "cursus" monuments. Cursuses are a type of monumental Neolithic structures which are similar to ditches or trenches and are found in the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These prehistoric monuments generally have long and relatively narrow earthwork enclosures. "The discovery of the cursus monuments is particularly significant, as these are incredibly rare in Ireland," said O'Driscoll. "There are less than 20 recorded cursus monuments in Ireland, and they typically occur in isolation or pairs. This makes the identification of five examples in Baltinglass the largest cluster of these sites in the country—but also, the detailed topographical model of the sites and their surrounding landscape provided an opportunity to 'digitally' investigate these monuments in detail," he added. Watch: Mount Etna puffs out 'smoke rings' | Alaska to break snow record The archaeologist, using his new data, was able to observe that at least four of the five newly identified cursus monuments were built in alignment with important solar events. He added that these solar events are related to farming cycles, along with death and rebirth which emphasised the purpose of these mysterious monuments. O'Driscoll hinted that the monuments may have symbolised the walking of the dead towards the heavens. "The function of these types of monuments has always been a thorny topic, as we simply don't have enough information. But given that some of the Baltinglass sites can also be linked with burial monuments, this suggested to me that they may have been ceremonial monuments used in burial practices, where the cursus marked the physical route in which the dead moved from the living into the afterlife," said O'Driscoll. (With inputs from agencies)

THESE five monuments in Ireland may have 'routes for dead' into afterlife, archaeologists suggest

Russia has placed Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Lithuania’s culture minister and other officials from Baltic nations on its “wanted” list on Tuesday (Feb 13) for their alleged involvement in the destruction of Soviet-era monuments.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Only the beginning’</h2>

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Estonian PM is wanted for “desecration of historical memory”.&nbsp;

The monuments, in question, some of which commemorate the Red Army, have long been controversial in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as they are seen as a symbol of a time when they were under Soviet occupation.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, the three Baltic nations Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have demolished most of their Soviet-era monuments.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Will NATO be dismantled? | True cost of receiving US’ protection in NATO

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/will-nato-be-dismantled-true-cost-of-receiving-us-protection-in-nato-689925/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the recent move “only the beginning,” adding that &nbsp;“Crimes against the memory of the world’s liberators from Nazism and fascism must be prosecuted.”&nbsp;

The Kremlin has said those placed on the “wanted” list by the Russian police had taken “hostile actions against historical memory” and Russia.

In addition to the Estonian PM, Estonia’s State Secretary Taimar Peterkop, and Karol Nawrocki, the head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, were also added to the “wanted” list, according to the Russian media. &nbsp;

A report by Reuters, citing the Russian interior ministry’s database, said the list also includes 60 of the 100 members of the previous Latvian parliament, including former Interior Minister Marija Golubeva. The previous parliament’s term ended in November 2022.

Meanwhile, Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys who was also included in the list has since slammed Russia accusing it of distorting facts.&nbsp;

“The regime is doing what it has always done: it is trying to stifle freedom...and to continue to create its own version that is at odds with facts or logic,” he told AFP.

Also&nbsp;Read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-dismisses-europes-warnings-about-russian-propaganda-689872">Kremlin dismisses Europe’s warnings about ‘Russian propaganda’</a>

The relations between the three countries and Russia have significantly deteriorated since the Russian invasion, not to mention the three Baltic nations are members of the European Union and NATO who have shown their staunch support for Ukraine since the beginning of the war. &nbsp;

<h2>‘Scare tactics’</h2>

In response to Moscow’s move, Kallas on Tuesday slammed Russian “scare tactics” and called it unsurprising. “The Russian Federation's move isn't surprising because this is their usual scare tactics,” said the Estonian PM in a statement.&nbsp;

She also vowed to further support war-torn Ukraine and fight “Russian propaganda”.&nbsp;

<h2>Will the Estonian PM, Baltic politicians be arrested?</h2>

In addition to the “wanted” list, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin has since ordered a criminal investigation into the matter. However, the Russian interior ministry database did not specify under which article of the criminal code the wanted are prosecuted.

The dozens of Baltic officials, including mayors, and municipal deputies who are included in the “wanted” list, according to Russian state news agency TASS have been accused of “destroying monuments to Soviet soldiers,” which is punishable by a five-year prison term under the Russian criminal code.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraines-zelensky-arrives-in-lithuania-on-visit-to-baltic-allies-with-focus-on-war-eu-integration-678656">Ukraine’s Zelensky arrives in Lithuania on visit to Baltic allies with focus on war, EU integration</a>

However, the Baltic politicians and the Estonian PM would not be arrested unless they enter Russian territory.

The Soviet-era monuments which were destroyed also included those commemorating Soviet soldiers killed in World War II. The Baltic states were annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, then occupied by Nazi Germany before returning to Russian rule as part of the Soviet Communist bloc until its collapse in 1991.&nbsp;

<h2>Estonia’s warning for the West&nbsp;</h2>

On Tuesday, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service in its national security threats report, warned that Russia is preparing for a military confrontation with the West within the next decade.&nbsp;

“Russia has chosen a path which is a long-term confrontation...and the Kremlin is probably anticipating a possible conflict with NATO within the next decade or so,” Kaupo Rosin told reporters.&nbsp;

“If we are not prepared, the likelihood (of a military Russian attack) would be much higher than without any preparation,” Rosin added.

However, the report also noted that a military attack by Russia in the short term is “highly unlikely” given that Moscow has to keep troops in Ukraine, but it&nbsp;plans to double the number of forces stationed along its border with NATO members Finland and the three Baltic nations.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Russia has placed Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Lithuania’s culture minister and other officials from Baltic nations on its “wanted” list on Tuesday (Feb 13) for their alleged involvement in the destruction of Soviet-era monuments.

Russia has placed Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Lithuania’s culture minister and other officials from Baltic nations on its “wanted” list on Tuesday (Feb 13) for their alleged involvement in the destruction of Soviet-era monuments. ‘Only the beginning’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Estonian PM is wanted for “desecration of historical memory”. The monuments, in question, some of which commemorate the Red Army, have long been controversial in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as they are seen as a symbol of a time when they were under Soviet occupation. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, the three Baltic nations Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have demolished most of their Soviet-era monuments. WATCH | Will NATO be dismantled? | True cost of receiving US’ protection in NATO Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the recent move “only the beginning,” adding that “Crimes against the memory of the world’s liberators from Nazism and fascism must be prosecuted.” The Kremlin has said those placed on the “wanted” list by the Russian police had taken “hostile actions against historical memory” and Russia. In addition to the Estonian PM, Estonia’s State Secretary Taimar Peterkop, and Karol Nawrocki, the head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, were also added to the “wanted” list, according to the Russian media. A report by Reuters, citing the Russian interior ministry’s database, said the list also includes 60 of the 100 members of the previous Latvian parliament, including former Interior Minister Marija Golubeva. The previous parliament’s term ended in November 2022. Meanwhile, Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys who was also included in the list has since slammed Russia accusing it of distorting facts. “The regime is doing what it has always done: it is trying to stifle freedom...and to continue to create its own version that is at odds with facts or logic,” he told AFP. Also Read | Kremlin dismisses Europe’s warnings about ‘Russian propaganda’ The relations between the three countries and Russia have significantly deteriorated since the Russian invasion, not to mention the three Baltic nations are members of the European Union and NATO who have shown their staunch support for Ukraine since the beginning of the war. ‘Scare tactics’ In response to Moscow’s move, Kallas on Tuesday slammed Russian “scare tactics” and called it unsurprising. “The Russian Federation's move isn't surprising because this is their usual scare tactics,” said the Estonian PM in a statement. She also vowed to further support war-torn Ukraine and fight “Russian propaganda”. Will the Estonian PM, Baltic politicians be arrested? In addition to the “wanted” list, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin has since ordered a criminal investigation into the matter. However, the Russian interior ministry database did not specify under which article of the criminal code the wanted are prosecuted. The dozens of Baltic officials, including mayors, and municipal deputies who are included in the “wanted” list, according to Russian state news agency TASS have been accused of “destroying monuments to Soviet soldiers,” which is punishable by a five-year prison term under the Russian criminal code. Also Read | Ukraine’s Zelensky arrives in Lithuania on visit to Baltic allies with focus on war, EU integration However, the Baltic politicians and the Estonian PM would not be arrested unless they enter Russian territory. The Soviet-era monuments which were destroyed also included those commemorating Soviet soldiers killed in World War II. The Baltic states were annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, then occupied by Nazi Germany before returning to Russian rule as part of the Soviet Communist bloc until its collapse in 1991. Estonia’s warning for the West On Tuesday, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service in its national security threats report, warned that Russia is preparing for a military confrontation with the West within the next decade. “Russia has chosen a path which is a long-term confrontation...and the Kremlin is probably anticipating a possible conflict with NATO within the next decade or so,” Kaupo Rosin told reporters. “If we are not prepared, the likelihood (of a military Russian attack) would be much higher than without any preparation,” Rosin added. However, the report also noted that a military attack by Russia in the short term is “highly unlikely” given that Moscow has to keep troops in Ukraine, but it plans to double the number of forces stationed along its border with NATO members Finland and the three Baltic nations. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia puts Estonian PM Kaja Kallas, Baltic politicians on ‘wanted’ list for this reason

The underwater monuments that have reemerged in Spain as a result of a severe drought include a centuries-old church and a massive megalithic complex.

Tourists flock as severe drought in Spain uncovers submerged monuments

The massive droughts in Europe saw a number of rivers completely drying up in the past few months and in most cases, that resulted in ancient structures coming to sight after almost centuries. A similar phenomenon happened in Spain as a stone circle resurfaced from the bottom of the river.

It happened in the Extremadura region of the country where a stone circle which was dubbed the “Spanish Stonehenge” was exposed as the water level receded. While it was first discovered by researchers back in 1926, the construction of the Valdecanas reservoir flooded the region once again in 1963 and it was submerged until recently.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-counter-attack-taiwan-warns-china-if-it-breaches-airspace-territorial-waters-511724" hreflang="en">'Will counter-attack': Taiwan warns China amid escalating tensions</a>

The site, which researchers thought dated back to around 5000 BC, has quickly turned into a popular tourist destination and has been given the official name of “Dolmen of Guadalperal”.

Another such structure that emerged out of the water in another part of the country was a church supposedly built in the 11th century. In the village of Sant Roma de Sau, the church was flooded in 1960 but the drought made the river go back few miles which allowed it to reappear.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-energy-giant-gazprom-halts-nord-stream-gas-supplies-for-maintenance-511723">Russian energy giant Gazprom halts Nord Stream 1 gas supplies for maintenance</a>

The drought has caused a lot of damage to Spanish water reserves as according to official data, the reservoirs currently are working at less than 40 per cent capacity. It has resulted in a number of small towns and cities facing a major crisis in the last few weeks when it comes to water supply.

According to a study published by Nature Geoscience journal, Spain is currently facing the worst water crisis in around 1000 years.

The massive droughts in Europe saw a number of rivers completely drying up in the past few months and in most cases, that resulted in ancient structures coming to sight after almost centuries.

The massive droughts in Europe saw a number of rivers completely drying up in the past few months and in most cases, that resulted in ancient structures coming to sight after almost centuries. A similar phenomenon happened in Spain as a stone circle resurfaced from the bottom of the river. It happened in the Extremadura region of the country where a stone circle which was dubbed the “Spanish Stonehenge” was exposed as the water level receded. While it was first discovered by researchers back in 1926, the construction of the Valdecanas reservoir flooded the region once again in 1963 and it was submerged until recently. Also read | 'Will counter-attack': Taiwan warns China amid escalating tensions The site, which researchers thought dated back to around 5000 BC, has quickly turned into a popular tourist destination and has been given the official name of “Dolmen of Guadalperal”. Another such structure that emerged out of the water in another part of the country was a church supposedly built in the 11th century. In the village of Sant Roma de Sau, the church was flooded in 1960 but the drought made the river go back few miles which allowed it to reappear. Also read | Russian energy giant Gazprom halts Nord Stream 1 gas supplies for maintenance The drought has caused a lot of damage to Spanish water reserves as according to official data, the reservoirs currently are working at less than 40 per cent capacity. It has resulted in a number of small towns and cities facing a major crisis in the last few weeks when it comes to water supply. According to a study published by Nature Geoscience journal, Spain is currently facing the worst water crisis in around 1000 years.

Severe drought in Spain reveals monuments dating back around 5000 years

A number of ancient sites have turned into temporary shelters for the displaced. The fifth-century ruined and ancient monuments have become a convenient place for the people seeking a home in Syria, take a look.

Syria: Displaced citizens take shelter in ancient monuments

Archaeologists have discovered a wide&nbsp;circle&nbsp;of deep&nbsp;pits&nbsp;surrounding an ancient settlement&nbsp;near&nbsp;Stonehenge, opening up new lines of investigation into the origins and meaning of the mysterious, prehistoric monument.

Among Britain's most recognisable landmarks, the standing stones at&nbsp;Stonehenge&nbsp;draw tourists from around the world as well as people searching for spiritual connections with the past. Their exact purpose remains unknown to scientists.

The new discovery, by a team of archaeologists from several universities, shows a 2-km (1.2-mile) wide&nbsp;circle&nbsp;of shafts surrounding a settlement at Durrington Walls, which also included a henge, or circular structure, made of timber posts.

The site is located about 3.2 km northeast of&nbsp;Stonehenge&nbsp;and evidence suggests the&nbsp;pits&nbsp;date back to the same period, some 4,500 years ago.

"As the place where the builders of&nbsp;Stonehenge&nbsp;lived and feasted, Durrington Walls is key to unlocking the story of the widerStonehenge&nbsp;landscape," said archaeologist Nick Snashall of the National Trust, the body that runs the&nbsp;Stonehenge&nbsp;site.

"This astonishing discovery offers us new insights into the lives and beliefs of our Neolithic ancestors," he said.

The&nbsp;circle&nbsp;of&nbsp;pits&nbsp;is significantly larger than any comparable prehistoric monument in Britain. Researchers have&nbsp;found&nbsp;20 shafts, but estimate there may have been more than 30 originally. Each one is about 5 metres deep and 10 metres across.

The discovery was made without the need for excavations, using remote sensing technology and sampling.

The archaeologists said the precise and sophisticated way in which the&nbsp;pits&nbsp;were positioned suggests that the early inhabitants of Britain used a tally or counting system to track pacing across long distances.

"The size of the shafts and circuit surrounding Durrington Walls is without precedent in the UK," said Vince Gaffney, a professor of archaeology at the University of Bradford and one of the lead researchers on the project.

He said the discovery demonstrated "the capacity and desire of Neolithic communities to record their cosmological belief systems in ways, and at a scale, that we had never previously anticipated."

Archaeologists have discovered a wide circle of deep pits surrounding an ancient settlement near Stonehenge, opening up new lines of investigation into the origins and meaning of the mysterious, prehistoric monument.

Archaeologists have discovered a wide circle of deep pits surrounding an ancient settlement near Stonehenge, opening up new lines of investigation into the origins and meaning of the mysterious, prehistoric monument. Among Britain's most recognisable landmarks, the standing stones at Stonehenge draw tourists from around the world as well as people searching for spiritual connections with the past. Their exact purpose remains unknown to scientists. The new discovery, by a team of archaeologists from several universities, shows a 2-km (1.2-mile) wide circle of shafts surrounding a settlement at Durrington Walls, which also included a henge, or circular structure, made of timber posts. The site is located about 3.2 km northeast of Stonehenge and evidence suggests the pits date back to the same period, some 4,500 years ago. "As the place where the builders of Stonehenge lived and feasted, Durrington Walls is key to unlocking the story of the widerStonehenge landscape," said archaeologist Nick Snashall of the National Trust, the body that runs the Stonehenge site. "This astonishing discovery offers us new insights into the lives and beliefs of our Neolithic ancestors," he said. The circle of pits is significantly larger than any comparable prehistoric monument in Britain. Researchers have found 20 shafts, but estimate there may have been more than 30 originally. Each one is about 5 metres deep and 10 metres across. The discovery was made without the need for excavations, using remote sensing technology and sampling. The archaeologists said the precise and sophisticated way in which the pits were positioned suggests that the early inhabitants of Britain used a tally or counting system to track pacing across long distances. "The size of the shafts and circuit surrounding Durrington Walls is without precedent in the UK," said Vince Gaffney, a professor of archaeology at the University of Bradford and one of the lead researchers on the project. He said the discovery demonstrated "the capacity and desire of Neolithic communities to record their cosmological belief systems in ways, and at a scale, that we had never previously anticipated."

'Astonishing' giant circle of pits found near Stonehenge

On World Heritage Day on Saturday, Indian monuments expressed solidarity by illuminating with oil lamps in the nation's fight against novel coronavirus.&nbsp;

There was special lighting of earthen lamps and candles in Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun's tomb to express solidarity with the 'corona warriors', including sanitation workers, police, medical personnel, and civil administration.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coronavirus-cases-in-india-jump-to-15712-more-than-500-dead-293348">Coronavirus cases in India jump to 15,712; more than 500 dead</a>

Earlier, while announcing the gesture, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also said that they would organise online pledge taking ceremonies, where students would administer an oath to safeguard and respect the monuments.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-decision-on-domesticinternational-operations-ministry-of-civil-aviation-293336">No decision on domestic/international operations: Ministry of Civil Aviation</a>

A few days ago, India extended nationwide lockdown, which is imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, which has taken lives of over 500 people in the country and infected more than 15,000 others.&nbsp;

(With agency inputs)

On World Heritage Day on Saturday, Indian monuments expressed solidarity by illuminating with oil lamps in the nation's fight against novel coronavirus. There was special lighting of earthen lamps and candles in Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun's tomb to express solidarity with the 'corona warriors', including sanitation workers, police, medical personnel, and civil administration.

On World Heritage Day on Saturday, Indian monuments expressed solidarity by illuminating with oil lamps in the nation's fight against novel coronavirus. There was special lighting of earthen lamps and candles in Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun's tomb to express solidarity with the 'corona warriors', including sanitation workers, police, medical personnel, and civil administration. Also read | Coronavirus cases in India jump to 15,712; more than 500 dead Earlier, while announcing the gesture, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also said that they would organise online pledge taking ceremonies, where students would administer an oath to safeguard and respect the monuments. Also read | No decision on domestic/international operations: Ministry of Civil Aviation A few days ago, India extended nationwide lockdown, which is imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, which has taken lives of over 500 people in the country and infected more than 15,000 others. (With agency inputs)

Indian monuments lit up to express solidarity with 'corona warriors'

As the world observes the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day on 18 April, we bring you top 5 breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are worth visiting.

Top 5 World Heritage Sites to Visit

Architectural marvels of the world pay tribute to health workers

The Acropolis and Slopes, archaeological site in the Athens, Greece were closed on Thursday and Friday afternoon due to high temperatures.

Greece briefly shuts down monuments

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