The site of Shinshara lies 15 km. west of the city of Ma’arra and represents one of the most important and well-preserved archaeological sites of the Jabal Zawiya region in the Limestone Massif. The archaeological houses at the site are considered to be rich with a refined architectural quality (ICOMOS report No: 1348). The archaeological site of Shinshara is also part of Park no: 4 in Jabal Zawiya and designated a world heritage site by UNESCO (2010). In 2012 the site of Shinshara became a sanctuary for civilian refugees from nearby towns and villages escaping the incessant barrel bombing of their homes.
On 1 October 2015 at exactly 1 pm local time, the Russian air force bombed the archaeological site of Shinshara, causing extensive damage to the site and the refugees taking shelter there amongst the ruins.
