Exhibition at National Museum shows efforts to save heritage from shadows

A small replica of an Iraqi Lamassu statue, 3D-printed versions of Roman glass bottles, and the meticulous restoration of a Malian manuscript are among the displays at a new exhibition highlighting international efforts to protect cultural heritage.

Salvaged from the Shadows, Protecting Cultural Heritage, which opened Thursday at the National Museum of China in Beijing, showcases the work of the Geneva-based International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas.

Founded in 2017 in response to the destruction of cultural heritage in recent decades, the alliance has supported some 450 projects worldwide aimed at sustainable development and peace building, according to Bariza Khiari, chair of the ALIPH Foundation Board. China was one of the first countries to join the organization.