Tuesday, July 17, 2012

More updates on the political messes surrounding Babylon

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/modern-curses-threaten-iraqs-ancient-wonder-of-babylon/story-e6frg6so-1226414757427
A very wide-ranging article about the political struggles between UNESCO, various branches of the Iraqi government, the US military, and assorted scholars. Meanwhile, the oil pipeline continues to cross the site, groudwater is rising, ancient Jewish manuscripts have been removed from the country, and UNESCO refuses to certify the place as a World Heritage Site. Everybody is mad. The Iraqi antiquities department is suing the Iraqi energy department over the pipeline. A government official quoted at the end of the article says they don't need UNESCO; "Babylon will survive." Maybe not.

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