Islamic State militants have locked Palmyra's museum and placed guards outside its doors, days after seizing the ancient city, Iraqi officials say.
Antiquities director Maamoun Abdulkarim said they had destroyed some modern plaster statues and also raised their flag on the ancient castle overlooking the Roman ruins.
Most of the museum's antiquities had been transferred to Damascus, he said.
IS has previously demolished ancient sites that pre-date Islam.
It sees this as a war against "false idols".