Photo By Staff Sgt. Jon Soles | Nouri Obeyd Kathem (left), an archaeologist with the Ministry of Antiquities and...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — What may look like large, weathered mounds of dirt in rural farmland near Mahmudiyah are actually artifact-filled ruins of an ancient civilization.
Soldiers of the North Carolina National Guard's 120th Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, surveyed the sites, here, recently, with officials from the Government of Iraq's Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism to examine ways to preserve and protect two ancient Sumerian sites from looters.
The complexes of dirt mounds — Tal Aldair and Sobbar Abu Habba — were once Sumerian city walls outside of what is today Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad. Pottery and clay tablets with the world's first form of writing, Cuneiform, are known to be in the mounds. The Sumerian culture is the oldest civilization in the world, dating back to the 6th century B.C.
"It's for the world and not just Iraq to preserve these world heritage sites because a lot of folks know it as the cradle of civilization," said Morrison. "These [Sumerians] were the first people we know of in history to be able to write and keep records and those are the kinds of artifacts that are here today."
The sites have already seen looting, and the GoI officials and archaeologists want to prevent more plundering by erecting security fences and a guard shack at the mounds.
"It has been identified as one of those sites that have been an easy target for looters over the years because of close proximity to Baghdad and because of turbulence in Iraq's history," said Maj. Charles Morrison, executive officer for the 120th CAB. "We're working with the Ministry to secure the site for preservation and future excavation. It's important for the Iraqi people, especially to preserve their heritage."
Morrison, an infantry officer from Nashville, N.C., is taking a lead in the project. A self-described history buff, Morrison formerly worked for the North Carolina of Archives and History. He said he is particularly interested in helping the Iraqis preserve a site that is 4,000 years old.
Nouri Obeyd Kathem, an archaeologist with the Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism, led Morrison over the mounds. Thousands of years of erosion have worn down the once city walls and temple structures, exposing countless pieces of clay pottery and other artifacts. Many more are still buried in the centuries-old mounds.
"They have been with us today to make sure we don't damage any of the archaeological sites when we emplace the fence and scope of work," said Morrison. "We're trying to work hand in hand with the government to make sure we do what they want in terms of preserving the site."
The plans call for security fences and possibly guard shacks to protect the sites. Signs would also be erected to let Iraqis know about the historical significance of the sites.
One of the legacies American Soldiers can leave behind in Iraq as the troop drawdown continues is a fence that will help preserve an ancient site that will continue to be a symbol of the nation's ancient history and culture.
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2009 03:57 |
| Story ID: | 41290 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 871 |
| Downloads: | 803 |
This work, N.C. Guard Soldiers help preserve Iraqi history, by SSG Jon Soles, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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