Damascus barrels were made by laying up steel wire and hammering it into the shape of barrel walls.
There can be rust that forms between the wires, and it may not be possible to see it. On the other hand, some of the old guns, if well cared for, can work as well as when they were made.
You can't expect the barrels to handle more than black powder pressures, even if they're perfect.
If they're not perfect, they can explode.
People do shoot them, with black powder. Generally, they proof test them first, and just accept that the gun might explode in testing. The guys I know who do this acquire the guns for cheap, and they have no sentimental value to them, nor high collector value.
Personally, I'd skip shooting it, keep it oiled and hang it on the wall.
Loading and shooting black powder is a whole hobby unto itself, and, as I wrote above, the gun could explode when it's proofed, and you wouldn't even have a nice wall hanger.