Latest news with #StateBoardofAntiquitiesandHeritage
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq restores historic Ottoman khan
Shafaq News/ Iraq has launched a restoration project for Khan al-Iskandariya, a 16th-century Ottoman-era caravanserai in northern Babylon, part of efforts to preserve national heritage and promote tourism. Khan al-Iskandariya, once a vital stop for trade caravans and pilgrims en route to Karbala and Najaf, features a rare design of overlapping forts and multiple domes. The building has remained unused since the 1950s, contributing to its deterioration. The Babylon Antiquities Inspectorate is overseeing the rehabilitation, divided into three phases, the first—funded by the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage—focusing on clearing rubble, removing invasive vegetation, reinforcing damaged domes and walls, and building a protective outer barrier. The second phase, currently underway and financed by the Babylon Governorate through Iraq's post-ISIS recovery plan, targets the western section known as Khan al-Waqf. This stage includes structural repairs, groundwater mitigation, reconstruction of damaged arches and ceilings, and installation of lighting and walkways. 'We're restoring the khan using traditional materials that match its original character,' Salman Ahmed, head of the restoration committee, told Shafaq News. 'Our objective goes beyond preservation—this is about creating a cultural and tourist hub for both locals and visitors.'
Iraqi News
19-05-2025
- General
- Iraqi News
Historic Assyrian discovery stuns archaeologists in Iraq
Baghdad ( – A stunning archaeological discovery has been made in the ruins of ancient Nineveh, now part of Mosul, Iraq. A massive stone relief depicting King Ashurbanipal, one of the most powerful rulers of the Assyrian Empire, has been uncovered by a Heidelberg University excavation team, according to Ancient Origins. The find was made in the throne room of the North Palace, a once-grand structure that served as a royal seat during Ashurbanipal's reign in the 7th century BC. The relief, carved from a single stone block measuring 5.5 meters long, 3 meters tall, and weighing approximately 12 tons, shows the king standing alongside two prominent deities and several attendants. Excavation work in ancient Nineveh, now part of Mosul, Iraq. Photo credit: Heidelberg University Since 2022, archaeologist Dr. Aaron Schmitt and his team have been exploring Kuyunjik, the site that includes the remnants of the North Palace. The discovery adds to the rich visual legacy of Assyrian art, which, like that of ancient Egypt, used elaborate wall carvings to depict scenes of kingship, divinity, and power. Once the capital of the Assyrian Empire in the late 9th century BC, Nineveh was a major urban center in northern Mesopotamia, known for its impressive architecture and cultural significance. Plans are now in motion to return the relief to its original setting, where it will eventually be made accessible to the public, in cooperation with Iraq's State Board of Antiquities and Heritage.
Shafaq News
07-05-2025
- Shafaq News
Historic Baghdad house of Agatha Christie nears ruin
Shafaq News/ Overlooking the Tigris River in the Karradat Mariam district of western Baghdad, a once-grand Ottoman-era house bearing the warning 'Danger: At Risk of Collapse' continues to quietly mark a forgotten chapter of literary and archaeological history. This now-dilapidated building once hosted famed British crime novelist Agatha Christie during her stay in Iraq in the mid-20th century. A Literary Landmark in Decay From the outside, the house appears fragile and partially ruined, yet passersby still regard it as one of the most beautiful buildings on the street. It served as a resting place for Christie and her archaeologist husband, Max Mallowan, during their excavation expeditions across Iraq and Syria. 'This house is a registered heritage property, but it remains under private ownership,' said Iyad Kazem, Director General of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, in comments to Shafaq News. 'According to Law No. 55 of 2002, public funds cannot be allocated to restore private properties unless legally acquired.' Kazem explained that the government has repeatedly offered to purchase the house from its current owner, Humam Al-Qaraghouli, who has consistently refused. 'He insists on restoring it himself in cooperation with international organizations,' Kazem said, noting that recent contact with the owner was made through the Prime Minister's Office just last month. An Endangered Cultural Treasure The home, once described by late Palestinian writer Jabra Ibrahim Jabra as 'one of the finest Ottoman-era houses,' features a two-story layout with wooden ceilings, a narrow upper balcony, and a courtyard flanked by towering date palms. However, parts of the roof have collapsed, and its structural integrity now poses a danger to pedestrians and nearby buildings. Local activist Dhekra Sarsam, who lives adjacent to the house, confirmed its deteriorating condition. 'It's beautiful, but the upper level is collapsing. It's dangerous,' she told Shafaq News. A Source of Inspiration Christie, who authored 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, stayed at the house during her time with the British archaeological mission in Nineveh. Scholars and biographers note that the Baghdad residence heavily influenced her work, with references to it appearing in her novel They Came to Baghdad. Iraqi archaeologist Mehdi Al-Badiri said the house previously belonged to Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, the brother of King Faisal I of Iraq. 'Christie called it the house of the king in her novel,' he noted. Christie herself reminisced about the home in her autobiography, describing it as 'a delightful old Turkish house on the west bank of the Tigris.' She wrote fondly of its cool courtyard, high palms brushing the balcony, and the surrounding date groves watered by small canals. Preservation Challenges The home's future remains uncertain. Al-Qaraghouli, the current owner, says he purchased the property three years ago and has recently agreed with the British Embassy in Baghdad to collaborate on its restoration. Meanwhile, heritage advocates express frustration with laws that prevent intervention in privately owned historic buildings. 'Many important sites like this one remain off-limits to restoration,' said cultural expert Amer Junaid, calling for updated legislation to enable public-private partnerships in heritage preservation.
The Independent
16-03-2025
- General
- The Independent
Ancient stone tablets show government red tape goes back 4,000 years, say scientists
Red tape may feel like a modern-day frustration, but according to archaeologists, it's been a part of governance for millennia. Evidence from ancient Mesopotamia reveals that bureaucratic systems were in place as far back as 4,000 years ago. Over 200 administrative tablets and around 50 cylinder seal impressions of Akkadian administrators have been uncovered by archaeologists from the British Museum and Iraq's State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, shedding light on the early foundations of government bureaucracy. The texts reveal a complex bureaucracy that went into running the ancient civilisation. These were the state archives of the ancient Sumerian site of Girsu, in modern-day Tello, while the city was controlled by the Akkad dynasty from 2300 to 2150BC. While the texts may not be great masterpieces of Sumerian literature, like the Epic of Gilgamesh, the British Museum's curator for ancient Mesopotamia, director of the Girsu Project, Sébastien Rey told The Independent they are 'nonetheless incredibly important.' 'They record all aspects of Sumerian life, and above all they name real people, their names, their jobs,' he said. 'The new tablets and sealings provide tangible evidence of a Sumerian city and its citizens under Akkad rule which will last about a century and half before the fall of the empire.' Girsu, known as one of the world's oldest cities, was once revered as the sanctuary of the Sumerian heroic god Ningirsu. At its peak, it covered hundreds of hectares worth of land, but it was one of the independent Sumerian cities that were conquered around 2300BC by the Mesopotamian king Sargon. Sargon originally came from the city of Akkad, whose location remains unknown but is thought the be near modern Baghdad. The Akkadian empire lasted for 150 years, ending with a rebellion. These administrative tablets, containing cuneiform symbols, an ancient writing system, record the affairs of the state, including issues relating to land management and the movement of goods and service. There are accounts of various commodities, including deliveries and expenditures, birds, fish and domesticated animals, flour and barley. They also deal with goods such as bread and beer, ghee and cheese, wool and textiles. He said: 'The names and professions of the citizens of Girsu are recorded in lists. Sumerian cities were known for their complex bureaucracy.' 'Among the many examples for concrete imperial control is the use of the newly imposed standard system of measures, the so-called 'Akkad-gur' for flour and barley,' he continued, comparing it to the British Imperial Unit.' The tablets were found at the site of a large state archive building, which was made of mud-brick walls divided into rooms or offices. Mr Rey added: 'We also found a group of tablets containing architectural plans of buildings, field plans and maps of canals. These were drawn by surveying scribes of the administration and are among the earliest known in the world.' The finds will go to the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad. It's possible they could be loaned to the British Museum in the future once further research and study has been carried out on them.
Iraqi News
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
State Board of Antiquities and Heritage: Recovering 27,000 artifacts
INA - BAGHDAD The State Board of Antiquities and Heritage announced on Tuesday the recovery of 27,000 artifacts from inside and outside Iraq, confirming their return to the Iraqi National Museum, as part of intensive government efforts to protect the country's cultural heritage. "The file of recovering smuggled and looted antiquities receives direct attention from PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani and the Minister of Culture, as work is being done to follow it up in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Iraqi embassies in various countries of the world," said the head of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, Ali Obaid, to the Iraqi News Agency - INA. Obeid added, "During the past period, we were able to recover more than 7,000 artifacts of historical importance dating back to ancient civilizations, and representing great artistic and cultural value, as they were returned to their original home in the Iraqi National Museum." "The efforts are not limited to recovery from abroad, as security operations and coordination with the Internal Security Forces, the Intelligence Service, and the Ministry of Interior resulted in the seizure of more than 20,000 artifacts inside Iraq, where legal measures were taken regarding them, and they are now preserved in the Iraqi National Museum."
