During the period between May 30 - June 30 2001, Damascus hosted an exhibit organized by the General Directorate for Archeology and museums, under the title "one hundred Years of Scientific Archeology Publications from Ernest Renan to Saleem Adel Abdul Haq 1800 - 1900 G.", at Damascus national museum Al Heer Al Gharbee hall.

This exhibit takes us back to the archeological excavations in Syria since the campaign headed by E. Renan 1800 G. to excavate the Phoenician artifacts along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. The importance of which became clearly unabated through the collection of artifacts and archeological pieces that orientalists accompanied with them during their roaming about in the east, during the whole seventeenth century and first half of the eighteenth.

The encouraging results of this campaign, stirred other museum organizations to send excavation teams to execute broad excavation works in all over Syria.

Exhibit Content : the exhibit contained a collection of scientific books preserved already in the library of the national museum; of which are :

1- Ernest Renan : Phoenician expedition, Paris

2- Guillume Ray, Buildings and Gusaders' architecture in Syria and isle of Cyprus, Paris 1871 G.

3- Syria, Oriental Art & Archeology

4- Magazine, 1st issue 1920, Paris - Paris Archeological magazine, 1st issue 1931 G. Aleppo.

5- Oriental Studies Bulletin, 1st issue 1931 G., Paris.

6- Syrian Arab periodicals, a scientific magazine books deep in Syrian archeology and its history, 1st Volume 1951 Damascus.

7- Archeological picnics in Syria, Saleem Adel Abdul Haq Damascus 1947.

In addition to other numerous categorized in three phases :

1st phase, 1800-1920:

Distinguished for the publication of numerous important masterpieces about oriental artifacts, such as that of Marquis Milkeordi Fogay 1865-1977 G., published a book about central Syria, which contained a lot of basic archeological and architectural data on classical sites, within a geographical area extending from extinct cities in the north down to Houran and Arab mountain in the south.

We would like also to refer to a publication by the same author (Guillume Ray), about military architecture during crusaders' war time. As for field works, excavations were set out in 1887 at Jarablus (old Kerkamesh), under Henderson supervision.

They continued until 1911 under D. Huggart's supervision; under Wooly's supervision with participation of Lorance. Outcome of these works were published in three volumes, the first one saw light in 1914. German works were set out in 1899 in Al-Kabour delta, by Max Freiherr Von Oppenheim, and went on intermittently until 1929.

They concentrated on the discovery of Tall Al-Fukeireih and Jablet Al-Baidah. Results were issued in four volumes.

Archeological survey and documentation works were basically recognized by the campaign led by Hurst Buttler in the period between 1904-1909. This campaign studied numerous classical sites in different parts of Syria, from the calcium block in the north down to Houran and Arab mountain in the south.

2nd phase, 1920-1945:

This phase was characterized by increased excavations and field works. Results of these works along with Syrian civilization studies centered in the following channels :

Set out of numerous publications, along with scientific Syrian and foreign periodicals, that played an active role in publishing basic study results. "The Arab Scientific Society in Damascus" and "Traditions Society in Aleppo", have undertaken the task of getting the Arab reader acquainted with most prominent archeological discoveries. Whereas Syria Magazine Arabist section and Oriental Studies bulletins, disseminate the most important archeological historical studies to western scientific world.

Publication of profuse analytical studies in Arabic and foreign languages, about numerous archeological historical subjects, such as: Al-Shaam Plans by scholar Mohamed Kurd Ali; and archeological Picnic in Al-Shaam countries by Ahmad Wasfi Zakariya; in addition to Historical Topography of ancient and middle age Syria by scholar Roney Dessault; and Damascus Ayoubite Buildings, by scientist John Sauvaget; Islamic Architecture during Omayad Epoch, by orientalist Krezwel.

Damascus National Museum's role in the dissemination of scientific subject matter, through the exceptional activities of prince Jaffar Husaini in preparing a directory for Damascus National Archeological house, in addition to Palmyrian writings and ciphers collection.

Excavation results had had a tremendous effect at the time, numerous basic volumes were issued on works executed at Ras Shamraa, Dora Europus, Tall Half, Tall Persip and Arslan Task. These scientific publications were characterized by correct scientific scrutiny, and analytical studies for numerous archeological and starta layouts.

3rd phase, 1945-1960:

It began simultaneously with the evaluation of mandatory power off Syria, which is considered a new stage of archeological operations, represented by the prominence of the national role in numerous respects. The policy which was layed out by General Directorate for Archeology and Museums, at the time of its establisher Dr. Saleem Adel Abdul Haq offering priority to national activity. Following the organization of the 1st pan Arab Archeological conference in Damascus 1947 G., 1st issue of Syrian Arab role Archeological periodicals was issued in 1951. It contained numerous essays and analytical studies of Syrian Middle East Archeology, along with recent archeological discoveries made by both Arab and foreign scholars, and the translation thereof into Arabic.

In addition to the aforementioned of Archeology and museums published a lot of scientific publications about Syrian museums and archeological artifacts in Syrian cities. Contributions of Mesers Saleem Adel Abdul Haq, Salah Eddin Al-Munajed, Khalid Mo'uth and Mohamad Tals played an active role in getting the scientific world acquainted with architectural archeology in the two cities of Damascus and Aleppo. One may add to this the efforts made by Saleem Adel Abdul Haq to organize the national museum in Damascus, through the exhibiting of up-to date excavation works, and the publication of profuse scientific books in miscellaneous languages about its different sections.

As for foreign activity, it was characterized by the publication of basic volumes about the results of excavation works, where the French expedition commenced at Tall Al-Hariri, Mary, by publishing the results of their researches. The Danish expedition, which excavated in a site adjacent to Hama citadel, its basic volume was about the building of previous strata of classical epochs. Whereas the oriental institute in Chicago did issue 1st volume about the results of its researches in Al-Omq plain.

Eventually, we may assert that through one hundred years of publication and study of the Syrian archeology, numerous basic publications in miscellaneous realms appeared.

Gratitude might be offered to E. Renan in the publication of the first archeological study about excavation works in Syria.

Nonetheless the policy adopted by Saleem Adel Abdul Haq has a basic role in building the Syrian archeological personality, and the elevation of the operations to competitive levels that defied western institutes.