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Valuable artifacts and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.

The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.

The half-dozen missing pieces were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, a source informed the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a group of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to enhance security and observation methods.

The director of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He added that guards at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, contains the significant archaeological collection in Syria.

It includes ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.

The institution was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was removed and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, a month after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.

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

The militant faction demolished numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a war crime.

Many historical objects were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.