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.

 



Saudi Arabia Launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris

Saudi Arabia launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris

Saudi Arabia launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris. (SPA)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday inaugurated the first Arab Week at UNESCO initiative in Paris in an event organized by the Arab Group at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The event was attended by Saudi Arabia’s permanent Arab representatives, several ambassadors, Arab and international diplomats in France, and a group of UNESCO officials and leaders.
Marking the first of its kind in the Arab world in over half a century, the event was officially launched by Jordanian Ambassador to France Leena Al-Hadid, who also serves as the chair of the Arab Group at UNESCO.
Al-Hadid emphasized that the event provides a unique opportunity to spotlight the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world that spans centuries, referring to the region's extensive contributions to science, philosophy, literature, and arts.
During the launch, Al-Hadid extended the Arab Group's appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its valuable initiative and to Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan for his efforts and support in making this exceptional event possible for the Arab countries, which drew significant cultural participation from various nations.
Throughout Arab Week at UNESCO, 22 booths representing the Arab countries are showcasing their cultural heritage, history, and elements of their civilizations, interacting with visitors, engaging audiences, and boosting cultural ties among organizers and attendees from around the globe.
The event also features seven seminars covering topics such as language, calligraphy, Arabic literature, artificial intelligence, education and fine arts, intangible cultural heritage, and world heritage. The seminars attracted academic institutions, experts, and specialists from the fields of education, culture, and science, aiming to reach ambitious ideas based on deep research rooted in Arab experiences tied to centuries-long heritage, civilization, and history.