Benghazi – The Benghazi Antiquities Department announced the completion of cleaning and maintenance work on a collection of Ottoman rifles stored in its warehouses, as part of preparations to display them among artifacts that document the evolution of weapons through the ages.
A team of researchers and technicians from the department’s Museums and Archaeological Stores section, including Mohammed Al-Tir, Abdullah Ishtiba, Khalid Al-Braiki, and Engineer Baraka Al-Jamli, undertook the cleaning work. They removed mineral deposits and treated rust while preserving the original character of the artifacts, in accordance with the standards for maintaining heritage weapons.
These rifles date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and were reused in the early 20th century. They were used for hunting in addition to their role in the tribal struggle against occupation, which gives them significant historical and cultural value, reflecting aspects of the region’s history and the struggle of its people.
Sayda Al-Sarawi, Head of the Museums and Archaeological Stores Department at the Benghazi Antiquities Department, confirmed that the work of cleaning and restoring artifacts in the warehouses continues periodically to preserve them and ensure the protection of cultural heritage for future generations.
This step is part of the department’s efforts to highlight the material evidence that reflects the region’s history and the struggle of its people throughout the ages, according to the department’s media office.