Ross Burns

Ross Burns is the author of Monuments of Syria (I.B.Tauris, 3rd edition 2009) and the accompanying website documenting the trail of destruction in Syria since 2011. He is publishing with Routledge in August the first history of Aleppo in English: Aleppo–A History. Many of the author’s photographs are also available on the Manar al-Athar website based at Oxford University.

The entrance to the National Museum of Damascus, featuring the doorway from the Umayyad desert castle at Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi in the Syrian desert.

What does the reopening of the National Museum of Damascus mean for Syria?

The museum, which reopened in October after six years, stands as a symbol of the country’s hopes for recovery

19 Dec 2018

The double entrance gateway to the Aleppo Citadel, largely the work of the late 12th century Ayyubid rulers of Aleppo (pictured here on 9 March, 2017) has largely survived the conflict with only minor damage. Photo: JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images

Aleppo: what remains?

The historic city has suffered major damage, but the worst unkindness we could offer it now is to write it off as ‘destroyed’

5 Sep 2017

The Narthex and south entry door to the Church os St Simeon Stylites. Much of the structure on the right hand side of the great doorway has been severely damaged by the blast on 12 May 2016.

While the world watches Palmyra, another of Syria’s heritage sites risks destruction

The Church of Saint Simeon near Aleppo is the greatest treasure of the Christian-Byzantine era in Syria – but it’s suffered extensive damage

20 May 2016

Forget digital recreations. Palmyra’s own future must come first

Syrian government forces have recaptured Palmyra from IS militants. What happens next is crucial

31 Mar 2016