Syria: Shelter in ancient ruins

Across northern Syria, rebels, soldiers and civilians are making use of the country's wealth of ancient and medieval antiquities to protect themselves from Syria's 2-year-old war. They are built of thick stone that has already withstood centuries and are often located in strategic locations overlooking towns and roads.

Read: Syrians find shelter in ancient ruins

In this photo, a defected Syrian policeman, Adnan al-Hamod, 33, lights a kerosene lamp inside an underground shelter he made using a jackhammer to protect his family from Syrian government forces shelling and airstrikes. All photos taken in Idlib province, Syria, Feb. 28, 2013

Nihal, 9, looks at the entrance of an underground Roman tomb used as shelter from Syrian government forces shelling and airstrikes.

Sami, 32, center, speaks with his children at an underground Roman tomb which he uses with his family as shelter.

Sobhi al-Hamod, 60, lives with his family in an underground cave.

Sami, 32, steps into an underground Roman tomb used for shelter from Syrian government forces shelling and airstrikes.

A Syrian woman leaves an underground shelter that her husband made using a jackhammer.

A Free Syrian Army fighter, Abu Mohammed, speaks inside a cave used for shelter.

Syrian children walk out of an underground tunnel that their father made with a jackhammer.

Nadia, 53, makes bread on a wooden stove in an underground Roman tomb which she uses as a shelter with her family.

Nadia, 53, steps out of an underground Roman tomb used as shelter from Syrian government forces shelling and airstrikes.