Anglo-American Coalition Brings Destruction to Babylonian Heritage.

[Menydh]

Babylonian treasures damaged by coalition troops

New Scientist
January 17, 2005

The ancient city of Babylon has suffered extensive archaeological damage during the US-led occupation of Iraq, warns a report issued by the British Museum on Saturday.

The report states that prehistoric brickwork has been crushed beneath military vehicles, precious stonework used to fill sandbags and important historical sites damaged by newly dug trenches.

"This is tantamount to establishing a military camp around the Great Pyramid in Egypt or around Stonehenge in Britain," says John Curtis, keeper of the department of ancient near east at the British Museum in London, UK, and author of the report. "The damage caused by the military camp is a further blow for the cultural heritage of Iraq."

Curtis acknowledges that coalition troops originally helped to protect the site from looting, following the start of the war in March 2003, but says the continued occupation has caused extensive destruction.

The city is regarded as one of the world's most important archaeological sites and was home to two of the most famous ancient kings, Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) and Nebuchadnezzar (604-562 BC). Hammurabi introduced the world's first legal code while Nebuchadnezzar constructed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Ishtar Gate

Since US troops established a permanent base in the city in April 2003 the destruction and contamination of the ancient site has been catalogued by Iraqi and foreign archaeologists.

Brick figures on the Ishtar Gate, one of the most precious monuments from antiquity, are reported to have been scarred by repeated looting attempts. The Processional Way, a 2600-year-old brick pavement, has also been crushed beneath heavy vehicles and bricks stamped by King Nebuchanezzar II, of a similar age, have been scattered at the site.

Gravel brought in from elsewhere to create vehicle parking, accommodation and storage areas may have contaminated archaeological deposits irreparably. Fuel from military vehicles is also likely to have damaged sub-surface ruins, says the report.

Repair and prepare

Curtis was invited by the Iraqi government to compile an independent report after attending a meeting convened in the city on 11 December 2004 to discuss the damage. He calls for a full-scale international investigation and for the site to be added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

"The international community must now work together with the Iraqis to record and repair the damage and prepare a management plan to ensure the site is properly looked after in future," he says.

The site was officially handed over by coalition forces to the state board of antiquities and heritages in the Iraqi Ministry of Culture on 15 January 2005.

Iraq's minister of culture, Mufeed al-Jazairi, acknowledged that the city had probably suffered during its occupation. "I expect that the archaeological city of Babylon has sustained damage but I don't know exactly the size of such damage," he says.

Meanwhile, the US military said that all earth moving has been halted and that it would consider relocating troops to protect the site.



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