Iraqi archaeologists find ancient Babylonian relics
Iraqi archaeologists have discovered 4,000 artifacts, most of them from ancient Babylonian times, including royal seals, talismans and clay tablets marked in Sumerian cuneiform - the earliest known form of writing.
The treasures came to light, the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said, after two years of excavations across 20 different sites in the regions between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the land ancient Greeks referred to as "Mesopotamia."
In addition to Babylonian artifacts, the finds included artifacts from the ancient Persian Empire and more recent medieval Islamic cities.
"The results of this excavation are evidence that Iraq's antiquities aren't going to run out any time soon," Abdel-Zahra al-Telagani, spokesman for the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry, said. "They also give us the incentive to continue to work to rehabilitate our ancient sites to become tourist attractions."
The artifacts will be transferred to the National Museum in Baghdad, which remains in need of restocking since looters stole approximately 15,000 artifacts after the 2003 US-led invasion. Some 6,000 have since been reported as returned.
Qais Hussein Rasheed, acting head of the antiquities and heritage committee, said Iraq still had a big problem with looters ransacking archaeological sites.
"These sites are vulnerable to endless robbery by thieves, smugglers and organized gangs because they are not protected," he said. "We have asked the relevant ministries to allocate policemen but haven't received very many so far."
Iraq is hoping a decrease in violence will encourage tourists to visit its ancient sites.
Potential highlights include the Biblical city of Babylon, fabled home to the Hanging Gardens, the Assyrian city of Nineveh in the north, relics of numerous medieval Islamic citadels, and some of Shiite Islam's holiest mosques and shrines.
Iraq saw its first group of Western tourists last month, and officials hope more will follow.
Abbas Fadhil, the head of the excavation team, believes some of the finds may be hugely significant. Of the two rare talismans dug up, one shows a face carved in Sumerian style framed by a triangle. The other is a red stone with a running antelope carved into it. - Reuters
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=4&Article_id=100630
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