Netherlands Returns 69 Stolen Treasures to Iraq

It may be over four months since Iraq's beleaguered National Museum reopened to much international fanfare, but the hunt for thousands of its most prized possessions, looted following the American-led invasion of 2003, goes on. And last Thursday marked a more optimistic phase in the saga, as 69 treasures made their way back to Baghdad via The Netherlands. The artefacts were snatched back from illegal Dutch traders after a sting operation by U.S. officials and Interpol, and were handed over to Baghdad's ambassador to the European country last week. Among the stash were cylindrical stone seals from before 2000 BC, a flagstone bearing Nebuchadnezzar II's name from 570 BC and a decorated nail from 2100 BC.

However the good news has been dampened not only by UNESCO's final report on the damage done by the war to the remnants of Babylon, but by leading Dutch archaeologist Diederik Meijer's assertion that this latest episode is merely the tip of the plundering iceberg, showing aerial photographs which appear to show illegal digs pock-marking official excavations at the ancient site. Mr Meijer told Associated Press he believed the gutting of Iraq's national heritage sites is continuing despite continued attempts to secure the country. That said, the desperate fate of Iraq's treasures has at least been made more palatable by Thursday's breakthrough.

Image by Ancient Wonders.

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Sean Williams

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Sean is an English Literature graduate, who currently works as a writer and journalist in London. He enjoys ancient history, theatre and sport. He does not enjoy Big Brother.