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Online Articles -> Babylon's ruins wrecked (1/16/2005 9:08:49 AM)
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AFP
January 17, 2005
LONDON: As the US prepared to hand back the ancient ruins of Babylon to Iraqi authorities at the weekend, a leading British archaeologist claimed US-led troops had "irrevocably contaminated" a site that dates to the dawn of history.
John Curtis, curator of the British Museum's ancient near-east department, said the coalition, which had used the old city as a base since invading Iraq in 2003, had seriously compromised future scientific research at the site.
"It is regrettable a military camp of this size should then have been established on one of the most important archaeological sites in the world," he said. "This is tantamount to establishing a military camp around the Great Pyramid in Egypt or around Stonehenge in Britain."
Mr Curtis said entire sections of the city had been flattened and covered with gravel, paving stones that had survived 2600 years had been crushed by military vehicles, and decorative bricks around the celebrated Ishtar Gate had been cracked and dislodged by people who
had tried to prise them out of the wall.
"Many areas around the site have been covered with gravel, sometimes compacted and chemically treated, to be used as a helipad and to create spaces for vehicles, accommodation, storage, etc," he said.
"This is extremely unfortunate from an archaeological point of view, as previously undisturbed archaeological deposits on the site will now be contaminated."
He based his report on findings made during a tour of the site last month. In response to the report, US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Steve Boylan said coalition forces had done their best to safeguard Babylon.
"There is no perfect solution. We do everything we can to protect the site and we continue to do so," he said.
Colonel Boylan said all construction work had been frozen in Babylon since June last year when the US military ordered a halt to projects because of concern about damage to the archaeological treasures.
Before that, US-led forces had consulted the Babylon Museum director about any work needed to be done around the ruins, he said.
Mr Curtis acknowledged the US presence in Babylon, about 100km south of Baghdad, had discouraged looting in the early stages after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
Capital of the Babylonian empire and the site of the Tower of Babel, as well as the Hanging Gardens, Babylon rose to greatness under King Hammurabi, who ruled from 1792-1750 BC and introduced the world's first code of law.
Mr Curtis called for an international investigation to be carried out by archaeologists chosen by the Iraqi authorities, to compile a full inventory of damage sustained at the site.
AFP
source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11960627%255E2703,00.html
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