Archaeologists debunk claim of looting in S. Iraq war zone

World Nut Daily ^ | 6 July 2008 | Staff Writer

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

An unpublicized survey last month of eight of southern Iraq's most important archaeological sites by a team of international specialists found no evidence of looting since the invasion of the country in 2003 by the U.S. coalition, despite earlier, widespread claims of extensive damage.

The 25-person mission, titled the Cultural Heritage Initiative, included four international archaeologists, three Iraqi archaeologists, a helicopter crew and military personnel for protection, reported the Art Newspaper. The group began their three-day survey on June 3 from Basra, staying overnight at another airbase 180 miles southeast of Baghdad. The helicopter and armed protection was provided by the British military.

The eight sites, located north of Basra, were: Ur, Ubaid, Eridu, Warka, Larsa, Tell el-Ouelli, Lagash and Tell el-Lahm.

Ur, many scholars of the Bible contend, is the Ur of the Chaldeans that was the ancestral home of the patriarch, Abraham. Eridu, the earliest city built in southern Mesopotamia, was settled in approximately 5400 B.C., prior to the flood according to Sumerian mythology. The region surveyed is the traditional location of the Bible's Garden of Eden.

Because the survey was being conducted in a war zone, the archaeological team was limited to only a brief time on the ground at each site – between 40 minutes and two hours – in addition to aerial inspections before and after landing. John Curtis, keeper of the British Museum's Middle East department and organizer of the mission, said, despite the limitation, the team had adequate time to make its assessments.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Another moonbat talking point goes down the drain.

[Always Right]

Another moonbat talking point goes down the drain.

As if moonbats really cared about Abraham or the Garden of Eden in the first place, except for maybe to debunk them.

[Carley]

We need to guard against the overt and the subtle lies spewed by the MSM. Be careful not to believe anything without careful scrutiny.

I notice now too that there is some rewriting of history on the matter of albore. Either there is a plan to have him as the veep or in the obambi cabinet.

Let’s not play the MSM game and react to their manipulation.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Just to be clear, this isn’t about the looting of museums, which did happen but was not nearly as bad as reported (many of the good items had been put away for safekeeping, and were NOT stolen).

This is about illicit archeaological digging to steal the artifacts.

[Red Dog #1]

Not really, just try to convince the average person that the looting didn't happen, Saddam had terrorist ties, that large stocks of yellow cake were removed or that chemical agents were found.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The truth doesn’t matter. Iraq was looted and it’s Bush’s fault. /bs

[Condor51]

An unpublicized survey last month of eight of southern Iraq's most important archaeological sites by a team of international specialists found no evidence of looting since the invasion of the country in 2003 by the U.S. coalition, despite earlier, widespread claims of extensive damage.

A survey 'last month'? WT___?? This looting myth was debunked years ago.

As I recall, the so-called looting was carried out by the Museum Directors/Staff and they were actually hiding the stuff so it WOULDN'T be "looted". It took some time after Saddam fell, but they finally fessed up that no 'widespread looting' took place.

[ConfusedAndLovingIt]

This looting myth was debunked years ago.

Different looting. That was the museum. This is about archaeological sites.