Until now, reports of antiquities looting had centered on the plundering of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad and other institutions, with reports from the thousands of archaeological sites in the country grim but episodic. In a 10-page report to the society and a conference call with reporters today, Professor Wright and his team painted a picture of serious, unmeasured damage mixed with essentially good news from some world-famous sites. The noted site at Babylon, for instance, was left intact as looters ransacked the nearby director's house and the gift shop.
The National Geographic team also said that the strong presence of American troops at several sites, like that at Nimrud, in the north of the country, had stopped looting there. Team members called for more soldiers in more sensitive locations.
"The situation is very different in different parts of the country," Professor Wright said. The sites in the north, where fighting was generally lighter, fared better, he said.
Seems like they may be different subject matters, rather than archeologists disproving the earlier mis-reportings about the museums, nicht Wahr, mein Lieber? Note to Chiefs of Staff: Prior to any military engagement, secure all archeological dig sites, museums, centers and articles of haute coiture, utilities, food supply channels.....what have I forgotten, WMD sites?
nytimes.com. |
