August 19, 2015
The Archaeological Institute of America recognizes, with deep distress, the murder of Mr. Khaled Al-Asaad, a distinguished archaeologist and former Director of Antiquities for Palmyra, Syria. Mr. Al-Asaad was an esteemed scholar and a generous friend to generations of archaeologists from Syria and abroad. Above all, he was devoted to the ancient metropolis of Palmyra, and its scientific exploration and interpretation. The world of archaeology has lost a scholar of distinction, grace, and humility.