Kurdistan's Archaeological Sites
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Kurdish Globe: A healthy plethora of archaeological sites is the pride of Kurdistan Region, but artifacts are quickly disappearing or simply disintegrating. Being part of the "Cradle of Civilization," Kurdistan is full of fascinating archaeological sites. Many have yet to be excavated and studied and need immediate protection. Abdullah Qaradaghi, director general of antiquities in Kurdistan Region, cautioned authorities on the destruction of the region's archaeological sites, telling the government to take quick action. "The archaeological sites in Kurdistan are at stake. I am warning authorities that if they do not take quick action to protect them, many will be destroyed soon," said Qaradaghi. The poorly maintained Dalal Bridge, with its stones falling apart, is in danger and needs urgent renovation. If not, it will disintegrate and be catastrophic for our national treasure, Qaradaghi told The Globe. The Mudhafaria Minaret should also be restored quickly, and studies show that it is going to fall down if not fixed soon, added Qaradaghi. He pointed out that the two above-mentioned great archaeological sites are just samples of hundreds of sites in Kurdistan in need of quick protection and renovation. Dalal Bridge is erected over the Khabir River to the east of Zakho city in Duhok province. There are different stories or opinions concerning its construction. Hamarteen says it is Roman; Asskeef says it is Greek. Some say one of the leaders of the great Alexander Al-Macedonia, Slowkas, ordered the bridge erected, and some Iraqi archaeologists think one of the Badinan Sultans (Kurdish Sultan) might have erected it. What is certain is that the new bridge is erected on the remains of the ancient one. As for Mudhafaria Minaret, which stands west of the Erbil citadel, its construction is attributed to Mudhafaraddin Kokburi. Originally, the minaret towered over mosques that were in the area. The mosque that used to be located near the minaret is thought to have been constructed either in the final years of the Umayyad Era dating back to the 7th century, or at the beginning of the Abbasid Era. Qaradaghi demanded that the regional government of Kurdistan protect the archaeological sites from smugglers, citing many archaeological pieces that have already been stolen and sold to neighboring and foreign countries. He urged the people of Kurdistan not to sell their history by stealing and smuggling archaeological pieces of Kurdistan to other countries. Kurdistan Region has more than 3,000 archaeological sites; among the most famous of them is the Erbil citadel, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world (since 6,000 B.C.); another is the Shanadar cave, where nine Neanderthal skeletons were found dating between 60,000-80,000 years old. The Globe has learned that less than 30 sites have been excavated. Archaeologists say that the cause of neglect to sites in Kurdistan is connected with the lack of experience, equipment, and an adequate budget. The Erbil Museum, also known as The Civilization Museum, has many wonderful archaeological pieces. Dozens of foreign and local people visit the museum daily. It was established in 1989, but the building is very small and not suitable for a city like Erbil, which is full of archaeological pieces. "We need another location for the museum; the current one is very small and lacks service," said Sangar Muhammad Abdullah, manager of The Civilization Museum. There are three halls that comprise The Civilization Museum. The first one is for prehistoric and stone-age archaeological pieces; the second is for Assyrian Era pieces; and the third is for Islamic Era pieces. All of the artifacts are from Kurdistan Region.
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Emirates Arrives in Erbil
Emirates, one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, today commenced its new non-stop service between Dubai and Erbil city in Iraq, making it the 11th destination launched by the airline this (12/08/2012)
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Baghdad Office / Agents
Mr. Walid Abdul-Amir Alwan
Bab Al-Mudham
P.O. Box 489, Baghdad - Iraq
Mobile: +964 790 183 1726,
E-mail: itmbaghdad@tcph.org
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