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Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The robbery was found on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.

The multiple taken statues were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman era, an authority told the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been enacted to enhance protection and surveillance.

The director of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He continued that guards at the facility and other persons were being questioned.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, contains the significant archaeological collection in Syria.

It features historical records tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, a significant ancient sites of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was built at an ancient location.

The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was transferred and stored at secret locations to protect them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in early this year, four weeks after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the civil war.

The Islamic State group demolished multiple temples and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the damage as a violation.

Countless cultural items were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and collections.