Washington to hand over Iraq two 4000 year-old artifacts

The United States will hand over two artifacts to Iraq dating back more than 4,000 years, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed al-Sahaf said on Tuesday.
 
"The Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq in Los Angeles, in coordination and cooperation with the US National Bureau of Investigation, will receive two artifacts dating back more than 4,000 years," al-Sahaf said in a statement, adding that “One of the pieces is a cuneiform tablet dating back to the city of Ur and the second is part of a very rare cuneiform pamphlet dating back to the ancient city of Babylon, and there are only two pieces of it in the world and it was used as a rare teaching tool.”
 
“This achievement has become in the hands after it was confiscated by the American authorities as part of the efforts being made to pursue the illegal trade in Iraqi antiquities and by tracking the information provided and taking legal measures to seize them and working to return them to their original home through the Iraqi authorities” he added.
 
"The handover ceremony will take place at the Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq in Los Angeles on January 20 during an official ceremony," he said.

The US handed over 17,000 looted artifacts to Iraq last year, including the famous 3500 year-ole Gilgamesh's dream tablet. read more

Iraq’s antiquities have been looted throughout decades of war and instability since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Iraq’s government has been slowly recovering the plundered antiquities since. However, archaeological sites across the country continue to be neglected owing to lack of funds.

At least five shipments of antiquities and documents have been returned to Iraq’s museum since 2016, according to the Foreign Ministry.



PUKmedia