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Iraq Recovers 23,000 Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian Archaeological Artifacts

The Iraqi Prime Minister during his visit to the National Museum on June 10 (Prime Minister's Office)
The Iraqi Prime Minister during his visit to the National Museum on June 10 (Prime Minister's Office)
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Iraq Recovers 23,000 Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian Archaeological Artifacts

The Iraqi Prime Minister during his visit to the National Museum on June 10 (Prime Minister's Office)
The Iraqi Prime Minister during his visit to the National Museum on June 10 (Prime Minister's Office)

Iraq has successfully recovered over 23,000 archaeological pieces during the past three years, with many of them being distributed between the US and Britain, according to Ahmed Al-Alyawi, who heads the House of Manuscripts body.

Al-Alyawi, who is also a spokesperson of Iraq’s Culture Ministry, also revealed the presence of 25 archaeological missions currently operating in Iraq, in collaboration with Iraqi experts, spanning German and Italian institutes and universities.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Alyawi affirmed that the ministry continues its relentless efforts to recover Iraqi antiquities from abroad.

The ongoing efforts have resulted in the recovery of 17,338 archaeological pieces from the US and various other countries.

Additionally, Iraqi authorities have successfully retrieved the Kish tablet, which bears the inscription of the Epic of Gilgamesh, as well as the Sumerian ram artifact.

Al-Alyawi added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has handed over all these pieces to the General Authority for Antiquities in the Ministry of Culture, where they have been stored in an Iraqi museum.

Meanwhile, the Kish tablet and the Sumerian ram artifact have been put on display.

Regarding the methods used for the theft and smuggling of this vast number of archaeological pieces, Al-Alyawi mentioned that “the looting has been occurring for many years, affecting artifacts from various Iraqi civilizations such as Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and others.”

Most of these artifacts were extracted through random digging by organized thieves, within the framework of what is known as the antiquities trade, which is both unfortunate and catastrophic.

“Excavated pieces were smuggled to a Gulf country and from there, further smuggled to the US,” revealed Al-Alyawi.

“However, through persistent efforts by Iraq, with the assistance of certain US entities, particularly the Department of Justice, we have managed to recover them,” he said.

 

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Culture

Saudi Heritage Commission, University of Vienna Study Reveals Pottery Production Identity in Arabia 3,600 Years Ago

Saudi Heritage Commission, University of Vienna Study Reveals Pottery Production Identity in Arabia 3,600 Years Ago
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Saudi Heritage Commission, University of Vienna Study Reveals Pottery Production Identity in Arabia 3,600 Years Ago

Saudi Heritage Commission, University of Vienna Study Reveals Pottery Production Identity in Arabia 3,600 Years Ago

The Saudi Heritage Commission, in collaboration with the University of Vienna, has conducted a new international scientific study revealing evidence that specialized production systems emerged in the oases of northwestern Arabia during the Bronze Age.

The findings point to an early form of production identity, offering new insights into the history of trade and innovation in the Arabian Peninsula more than 3,500 years ago, the Saudi Press Agency said on Thursday.

Published in PLOS One, the study drew on archaeological excavations at the oasis of Qurayyah in Tabuk Region.

It found that the two-color pottery discovered at the site was produced through a consistent manufacturing tradition characterized by stable features. These characteristics helped the products spread widely, reflecting a clear production identity associated with both product quality and origin.

The study involved an international team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, the Austrian Archaeological Institute, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, TU Wien, and the University of Sydney.

The research partnership sought to employ advanced technologies to study and analyze archaeological finds.

The researchers conducted advanced archaeological and laboratory analyses of a collection of pottery vessels unearthed at the oasis of Qurayyah. The findings helped revise earlier assumptions about what was known as “Midianite Pottery,” suggesting that this pottery type may have originated in the oasis in northwestern Arabia.

The results showed that the earliest painted pottery at Qurayyah dates to around 3,600 years ago, with production peaking around 3,200 years ago.

The pottery spread across areas extending north to the southern Levant and Egypt and south to northern Arabia. Production continued until the end of the Iron Age in the mid-first millennium BCE.

The study underscores the historical importance of the oasis of Qurayyah as a major production center in northwestern Arabia during ancient times.

It also highlights the Heritage Commission’s role in supporting archaeological research, strengthening international scientific partnerships, and using research to deepen knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s history and showcase its cultural heritage globally.

Culture

Saudi Culture Ministry Relocates to New Headquarters in Diriyah

The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
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Saudi Culture Ministry Relocates to New Headquarters in Diriyah

The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities

Diriyah Company has announced the completion of the relocation of the Ministry of Culture to its new headquarters in Diriyah’s Northern District, developed as part of the company’s integrated urban masterplan. The move underscores the growing presence of national cultural institutions within Diriyah, reinforcing its role as a fully integrated destination for culture, governance, and contemporary living.

The relocation follows the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Culture and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority in mid-2022. The agreement laid the foundation for collaboration between the Diriyah Project and the Ministry of Culture to encourage coordination, development, and the delivery of cultural projects, initiatives, and events in line with Diriyah’s master plan.

Commenting on the occasion, Group CEO of Diriyah Company Jerry Inzerillo said: “We are pleased that the Ministry of Culture has chosen Diriyah as its headquarters, and we are proud of our partnership with the Ministry in developing its new headquarters. This milestone reflects the pace at which we are advancing Diriyah as a fully integrated urban destination for living, working, and visiting. The relocation of the ministry marks an important step in delivering world-class work environments and office spaces, aligned with our vision to position Diriyah as a vibrant global urban hub.”

Ministry of Culture spokesperson Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa affirmed that the ministry’s relocation to its new headquarters in Diriyah embodies the connection of Saudi culture to its deep historical roots. He noted that “this relocation is an extension of the ministry’s vision to entrench Saudi culture as a pillar of national development, and to strengthen its integration with historical sites of civilizational value, contributing to highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural depth and enhancing Diriyah’s standing as a global cultural and historical center.”

The new headquarters is the largest standalone office building in Diriyah to date, with a total built-up area of 33,168 square meters. It has been designed to accommodate the ministry’s teams and operational requirements, offering an integrated work environment supported by advanced digital infrastructure, tailored office layouts, and high-quality facilities.

The project has been awarded by LEED, the world's widely recognized green building rating system obtaining LEED Gold–certified under LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction: Core and Shell Development and a Gold Commercial certification under the national green building rating system, Mostadam, reflecting its sustainable approach across energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and health and wellbeing, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

The development also reflects Diriyah Company’s broader commitment to thoughtful urban planning and its long-term vision to establish Diriyah as a leading center for culture, education, arts, and entertainment, anchored by its unique setting that includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif and a growing collection of cultural and historical destinations

As part of its wider development program, Diriyah Company is delivering a $63 billion integrated urban project that has attracted more than five million. Several key destinations opened in 2024, including Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel and Zallal, a vibrant mixed-use district combining dining, retail, and office spaces in a traditional setting.

Development works are continuing, with the project targeting more than 50 million visitors annually by 2030, the creation of 180,000 jobs, and accommodation for around 100,000 residents.

Culture

Kerala’s Snake Boat Racers Keep Tradition Afloat in Face of Floods and Financial Challenges

Rowers from the United Boat Club train on the Pamba river in preparation for the Nehru Trophy snake boat race, near Kainakary, Kerala, India, August 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Rowers from the United Boat Club train on the Pamba river in preparation for the Nehru Trophy snake boat race, near Kainakary, Kerala, India, August 7, 2026. (Reuters)
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Kerala’s Snake Boat Racers Keep Tradition Afloat in Face of Floods and Financial Challenges

Rowers from the United Boat Club train on the Pamba river in preparation for the Nehru Trophy snake boat race, near Kainakary, Kerala, India, August 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Rowers from the United Boat Club train on the Pamba river in preparation for the Nehru Trophy snake boat race, near Kainakary, Kerala, India, August 7, 2026. (Reuters)

This weekend around 20 wooden boats, 100-foot long and powered by about 100 rowers each, will slice through Kerala's backwaters to compete for the most prestigious trophy in the centuries-old sport of "vallam kali", or snake boat racing.

Thousands will cheer on from the shore and houseboats as the slender vessels, whose raised sterns give them a cobra-like appearance, race for village pride on a 1.4 km course at Punnamada Lake.

As well as the splashing of hundreds of oars hitting the water in unison over 90 times per minute, the rowing is accompanied by a cacophony of chants and whistles as well as the thunderous beat of thick wooden poles pounding on the deck.

The Alappuzha district, which used to be known as the rice bowl of Kerala because of the proliferation of paddy fields, contains some of the lowest lying land in India and is prone to flooding during the ‌monsoon rains.

But while ‌most villagers check the swollen Pamba River each monsoon morning with trepidation, Vakkachan Theverkkat sees ‌opportunity -- ⁠another chance to ⁠train his roster of 150-odd rowers.

Vakkachan is a former senior oarsman with a lot of experience of racing the massive boats that compete across a three-to-five month season, including Saturday's prestigious Nehru Trophy.

"It runs in my family," said Vakkachan, the leading captain of the Kainakary-based United Boat Club (UBC), which has been competing for the Nehru Trophy since 1963 and won it 12 times.

"Our club has won the Nehru Trophy the most times and also lost it the most times," he told Reuters with a smile.

Deadly floods killed 28 people and displaced thousands across Kerala this month and parts of Kainakary were also affected.

Several roads became inaccessible as houses and buildings stood half-submerged, surrounded by ⁠paddy fields that had swollen into lakes.

Yet UBC's rowers -- mostly locals but including oarsmen from ‌distant states like Uttarakhand and Manipur -- maintained their rigorous practice schedule, often twice ‌daily.

UBC are rated a decent chance for a 13th triumph as they have been hired to row "Veeyapuram", the boat which won the Nehru Trophy ‌and the Champions Boat League last season in the hands of the Village Boat Club.

"VICIOUS VEERU"

Like most Chundan Vallam, or ‌snake boats, Veeyapuram is community-owned and belongs to a village of the same name some 30 km (19 miles) south of Kainakary.

Hundreds of villagers raised around 9 million Indian rupees ($94,300) to launch the boat -- nicknamed "Vicious Veeru" -- in 2019.

Funding each season costs nearly 7 million rupees ($73,000), with the boat owners earning back only a fraction from sponsors and prize money.

While the Kerala government often uses snake boat races to promote tourism, shareholder Manikanthan ‌Nair TM said the boat-owning communities get little help as they battle financial hardship and natural disasters to keep the sport alive.

Kamarudeen KA, the secretary of the Veeyapuram ownership group, ⁠however, said they would not ⁠give up the tradition despite the challenges.

"As long as we're here, we'll keep (this boat) running," he said.

"People speak of it proudly and with admiration. We feel proud that this boat has given us that recognition and identity."

Originally designed as battle canoes in the 13th century, the snake boats have become unlikely symbols of unity in a culturally diverse state.

"There's no barrier like religion or caste when it comes to the boat ... we all pray for its success," said Robin Varghese, a Christian priest and member of the Veeyapuram committee.

"This is our blood and culture," said UBC secretary Sajimon B.

Boats can compete for decades. The Karichal snake boat, launched in 1970, narrowly beat Veeyapuram to win the 2024 Nehru Trophy.