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Ancient artifacts and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.

The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.

The multiple stolen pieces were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official informed the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

He added that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the most important archaeological collection in the country.

It contains ancient inscribed tablets originating to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The IS organization demolished multiple temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a war crime.

Many cultural items were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.