17,000 Artifacts Reclaimed, in Iraq's Largest Repatriation, of Looted Antiquities.
On August 3, thousands of clay tablets and seals, artifacts from Mesopotamia, were part of the largest-ever repatriation of looted Iraqi antiquities.
On August 3, thousands of clay tablets and seals, artifacts from Mesopotamia, were part of the largest-ever repatriation of looted Iraqi antiquities.
The Iraqi Culture Ministry took custody of some 17,000 archaeological artifacts that were returned by a prominent museum and an Ivy League university.
The Iraqi Culture Ministry took custody of some 17,000 archaeological artifacts that were returned by a prominent museum and an Ivy League university.
'The New York Times' reports that the repatriation comes after decades of conflict that have stripped the country of many of its historical artifacts.
'The New York Times' reports that the repatriation comes after decades of conflict that have stripped the country of many of its historical artifacts.
This is not just about thousands of tablets coming back to Iraq again, it is about the Iraqi people.
It restores not just the tablets, but the confidence of the Iraqi people by enhancing and supporting the Iraqi identity in these difficult times, Hassan Nadhem, Iraqi minister of culture, tourism and antiquities, via 'The New York Times'.
About 12,000 of the items had been held by the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
About 12,000 of the items had been held by the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
The museum was founded by the Christian evangelical family that owns the Hobby Lobby craft store chain.
The museum was founded by the Christian evangelical family that owns the Hobby Lobby craft store chain.
Over 5,000 of the other pieces, from a previously unknown Sumerian city of Garsana, had been held by Cornell University.
Over 5,000 of the other pieces, from a previously unknown Sumerian city of Garsana, had been held by Cornell University.
According to 'The New York Times,' many archaeologists suspect the collection came from a looted archaeological site in the south of Iraq.
That area was once a part of ancient Mesopotamia, where the world’s first known civilizations began.
That area was once a part of ancient Mesopotamia, where the world’s first known civilizations began.
It is also where writing, astronomy and the first known code of law originated.
It is also where writing, astronomy and the first known code of law originated.
One of the best-known repatriated artifacts was a roughly 3,500-year-old clay tablet fragment inscribed with a portion of the 'Epic of Gilgamesh.'.
One of the best-known repatriated artifacts was a roughly 3,500-year-old clay tablet fragment inscribed with a portion of the 'Epic of Gilgamesh.'.
The ancient saga, which mentions the Great Flood and the Garden of Eden, predates the 'Old Testament' by many centuries.
The ancient saga, which mentions the Great Flood and the Garden of Eden, predates the 'Old Testament' by many centuries