The ongoing conflict in Yemen has raised serious concerns about the preservation of the country’s rich cultural heritage, which has already suffered extensive damage from over a decade of war, looting, and destruction. The recent escalation of hostilities involving the Houthi movement threatens to further endanger archaeological sites, museums, and artifacts across the country.

Mohammed Ali Thamer, director general of cultural statistics at Yemen’s Ministry of Culture in Sana’a, estimates that of the 2,318 archaeological sites recorded in Yemen’s 2014 Archaeological Atlas, approximately 477 have experienced total or partial destruction during the conflict. Research conducted by the Sana’a Center documents 775 destructive incidents involving cultural sites between 2014 and 2023, highlighting the widespread impact of the war. Although exact figures are difficult to determine, Yemeni authorities report that at least 8,000 antiquities have been smuggled out of the country amid weakened state control, with international estimates suggesting that between 10,000 and 14,000 Yemeni artifacts now reside abroad.

Looting has intensified in regions such as Marib, Al-Jawf, and Shabwa, where local populations have reportedly targeted ancient tombs and archaeological sites in search of valuables like gold and saleable artifacts. Saleh Al-Baydani, president of the Anasewon Center for Research and Transformation Studies in Aden, described extensive trafficking networks linking illegal excavations to local intermediaries, cross-border operators, and international buyers. He cautioned that these networks might be facilitated or protected by corruption, political influence, or armed groups connected to the war economy.

Al-Baydani also pointed to ideological motivations that complicate the preservation of Yemen’s heritage. He noted that the founder of the Houthis, Hussein Al-Houthi, criticized Yemenis for celebrating historical legacies such as those of the Sabaean and Himyarite civilizations, suggesting that part of the Houthi worldview may reject significant elements of Yemen’s ancient cultural identity. This ideological stance, combined with military tactics such as the planting of landmines in archaeological locations like Barqaish reported by Thamer’s research, adds layers of complexity beyond the typical wartime damage.

The widespread looting and destruction have also severely impacted Yemen’s museums. Twelve out of 22 national museums have reportedly suffered from theft or damage, including the Regional Museum in Dhamar, which housed about 12,500 objects before its destruction. The lack of comprehensive inventories and incomplete ownership records hinder efforts to recover and trace missing artifacts.

One illustrative case involves 77 Yemeni antiquities seized in the United States. In 2023, the US State Department and Yemen’s embassy sought assistance from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art to care for the objects, which include funerary stelae and pages from a ninth-century Qur’an. While formally repatriated to Yemen’s government, the artifacts remain in the museum’s custody for preservation and limited display, pending improvements in conditions back home.

Yemen’s antiquities authorities have also raised concerns over items appearing at London auction houses Bonhams and Apollo Art Auctions. Both auction houses have defended their provenance checks and denied knowingly dealing in illegally obtained objects. While no concrete evidence has been made public to confirm the unlawful origin of these artifacts, Al-Baydani called for greater transparency through the publication of provenance records and independent examinations. He emphasized that buyers and intermediaries who accept items with uncertain ownership histories perpetuate the illicit trade and encourage further looting.

With archaeological surveys halted and foreign missions withdrawn due to security concerns, Yemen currently lacks a coordinated system for protecting its cultural heritage and tracking missing objects. Thamer advocates for the creation of a comprehensive registry documenting destroyed sites and smuggled antiquities to aid in investigations and restitution efforts.

Experts warn that Yemen is at risk of losing irreplaceable traces of its ancient civilization amid continuing conflict. According to Al-Baydani, these artifacts represent not only valuable items but crucial evidence of thousands of years of human history. Their disappearance would mean losing significant parts of Yemen’s historical identity forever.