Iraq recovers 23 thousand artifacts: priceless cultural treasures

Iraq is witnessing considerable efforts to recover its smuggled and stolen traces, with Iraq's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities revealing the recovery of more than 23 thousand artefacts from abroad over the last three years. 17,338 artifacts were recovered from the United States and several other countries two years ago, as well as the Kamesh painting, which is the first clay board to carry the Kamesh poetry epic in 3500 years BC, as well as the Sumerian clay ram.

As part of the recovery effort, thousands of antiquities were 6 from England, which had been borrowed from the British Museum for 100 years.

The Ministry organizes the recovery file through a competent department that follows multiple channels to identify smuggled, stolen or randomly scavenged Iraqi artefacts. Information is documented and communicated with the owners of these objects in other countries. Iraqi delegations visit them and work to recover them and return them to the Iraqi Museum.

Restoration and maintenance of artefacts recovered through the recovery file is of great interest. These pieces are inspected and detected by experts and technicians, and if they need to be restored and maintained, a committee and specialized sections are assigned to consider them and prepare them for the necessary operations in accordance with the international standards adopted.

The issue of smuggled effects is among the priorities of the Iraqi authorities, and the recovery of such a large and good number of Iraqi monuments is a positive development, reflecting Iraq's commitment to its rights and property. Observers call for the continuation of this trend, which confirms that Iraq has been a great civilization throughout history.

There is high government interest in the issue of recovery of smuggled effects, which indicates the importance of this file in the eyes of the Iraqi government. The preservation of Iraq's cultural heritage and antiquities is one of the authorities' priorities by strengthening efforts to combat looting, smuggling and the recovery of lost artefacts.

The crimes of the ISIL terrorist organization are among the most significant causes of the destruction and looting of Iraqi antiquities, especially in the city of Mosul, which contains important archaeological wealth. In addition, the Iraqi Museum suffered from the theft of antiquities during previous years as a result of the country's difficult security conditions and instability, as well as indiscriminate exhumation in some remote areas.

Restoration and maintenance of recovered monuments are carried out with great care. The necessary examinations and technical analysis are carried out to determine the status of the artefacts and whether they need to be restored or maintained. Specialized committees and certain departments provide the necessary care and prepare these pieces in accordance with international standards adopted, with the aim of preserving Iraq's cultural heritage and ensuring the continuity of its long history.

Observers emphasize the importance of continuing efforts to restore smuggled and stolen monuments and to devote greater attention and resources to this area in order to protect Iraq's cultural heritage and preserve its long history and status as the cradle of the world's greatest civilizations.