| |
Dr Paul Collins in Iraq |
British Museum attempts to save Iraq’s heritage
SWEEPING over the foothills of the treacherous mountains of southern Iraq, Dr Paul Collins got his first peek of the remnants of the ancient civilisation he had studied for his whole life.
But the team of experts on board the army helicopter were not preparing themselves for an archaeological dig.
Their mission was to report back on the ravages of war since the invasion in 2003, and to kick-start a major programme to ensure the British army’s legacy is positive.
Dr Collins, chief curator of later-Mesopotamia at the British Museum, said: “We were dependent on the British army for the helicopter and protection. We were told it was too difficult to travel by foot. It is part of the security situation out there.”
Shortly after the invasion of Iraq, more than 8,000 precious objects of antiquity were pillaged from Iraq’s national museum in Baghdad.
Both Iraqi and coalition forces have since set up huge military bases near ancient tombs and at the excavated entrances to subterranean cities.
Owing to the volatile situation on the ground, all non-military personnel – including archaeologists, conservationists and even officials from the Iraqi government – were banned from monitoring Iraq’s heritage sites.
It has led to fears that unchecked military presence could have damaged Iraq’s cultural heritage irreparably.
Dr Collins said: “We knew about the lootings that took place early in 2003 and we had real concerns that the sites had continued to suffer.
“Many are used now as huge military bases, with access restricted to anyone other than the coalition forces.
“You would have to ask the military about why that is – but it is safe to say it has not helped the situation.
“On a visit to Kisiga, or Tel-al-Lahm, where we knew of extensive looting in 2003, we found lots of food-wrappers strewn around the place by coalition forces and evidence of cuttings into the mounds of the site.
“These sites were previously restricted. But since it has been used by coalition forces it has been trampled on by thousands of military boots – which no one wants.”
In a 38-page report produced by the British Museum, he wrote: “It is well known that for more than 25 years there has been underinvestment in the Iraqi cultural heritage, with the result that many sites and monuments are now suffering from neglect. This is a process that has accelerated since March 2003.”
The report has been sent to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport advising that many buildings are now “in poor condition and in need of urgent repair”.
It concludes: “Damage was noted at a number of sites and this should be the subject of detailed archaeological investigation as soon as possible” and that “urgent repairs” are needed.
Last September, Major- General Barney White-Spunner, commander in chief of British troops, was summoned to lunch with the director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor.
Major-General White-Spunner was soon to be deployed to southern Iraq and was keen that archaeological sites should – after five years – be visited and, when the time came for the withdrawal of British forces, properly protected long after the troops’ withdrawal.
A generous grant for the British Museum project was forthcoming from the government.
Dr Collins said: “The Major-General was keen to have a positive legacy for the British army. What we have done is a mere snapshot. There are hundreds of sites of archaeological interest. It is hoped that this project could be the start of something much bigger, something that will cover the whole of Iraq. That is what we are hoping to implement.” |
 |
| |
|
|
