Iraqi antiquities officials receive Artifacts from Third Dynasty of Ur
Iraqi archaeologists have received 13 artifacts dating to the Third Dynasty of Ur, which flourished in southern Iraq more than 4,000 years ago.
The artifacts were illegally dug up by an Iraqi man from an unprotected ancient site in the southern Province of Dhiqar of which the city of Nasiriyah is the capital.
Dhiqar covers the area where the ancient Sumerian civilization thrived with its magnificent capital, Ur.
Ancient Ur, known by its fabulous ziggurat, or stepped tower, is one of Iraq’s most fascinating tourist attractions.
“The pieces handed in to us represent clay tablets with Sumerian cuneiform writing. Some texts seem to be of a mathematical nature,” said Amer al-Zaidi, head of Nasiriyah’s antiquities office.
The person who returned the artifacts was not named. However, he was reported as saying that he came across the tablets while digging on an unguarded ancient mound.
Dhiqar is one of the richest Iraqi provinces with antiquities.
Zaidi said there were up to 12,000 ancient mounds in the province. “The total number of guards we have is 98,” he noted.
The site of Ur was heavily damaged by U.S. occupation troops, which used it as their main barracks in southern Iraq.
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The artifacts were illegally dug up by an Iraqi man from an unprotected ancient site in the southern Province of Dhiqar of which the city of Nasiriyah is the capital.
Dhiqar covers the area where the ancient Sumerian civilization thrived with its magnificent capital, Ur.
Ancient Ur, known by its fabulous ziggurat, or stepped tower, is one of Iraq’s most fascinating tourist attractions.
“The pieces handed in to us represent clay tablets with Sumerian cuneiform writing. Some texts seem to be of a mathematical nature,” said Amer al-Zaidi, head of Nasiriyah’s antiquities office.
The person who returned the artifacts was not named. However, he was reported as saying that he came across the tablets while digging on an unguarded ancient mound.
Dhiqar is one of the richest Iraqi provinces with antiquities.
Zaidi said there were up to 12,000 ancient mounds in the province. “The total number of guards we have is 98,” he noted.
The site of Ur was heavily damaged by U.S. occupation troops, which used it as their main barracks in southern Iraq.