Theft and Damage

Iraq's amazing archaeological heritage suffered badly under sanctions, and things got much worse during the invasion and subsequent lawlessness. These links give an indication of the scale of the looting and damage, and an introduction to international efforts to trace stolen artefacts.

News reports

An Archaeologist's Weblog
Very useful, academically-orientated site maintained by Francis Deblauwe.
Assessment of damage to Libraries and Archives in Iraq (May 2003)
By Graham Shaw at the British Library.
British Museum Iraq Crisis webpages
Useful site including images, links, and further reading. The BM has been very concerned about the fate of Iraq's archaeological heritage.
Emergency Red List of Iraqi Antiquities at Risk
Interpol's Stolen Works of Art page
IraqCrisis email list
A moderated list for communicating substantive information on cultural property damaged, destroyed or lost from Libraries and Museums in Iraq during and after the war in April 2003, and on the worldwide response to the crisis.
Lost Treasures From Iraq
A database at the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago.
SAFE
New York based coalition of academics and archaeologists working together with professionals in advertising and publicity to raise awareness about the world's endangered cultural heritage.
The 2003- Iraq War & Archaeology
Maintained by archaeologist Francis Deblauwe.

See also An Archaeologist's Weblog.
The Illicit Antiquities Research Centre
At the University of Cambridge.
The threat to world heritage in Iraq
News and information during February to May 2003.
UNESCO Crisis in Iraq
News reports
- BBC News: 'US troops damage ancient Babylon' (15 Jan 2005)
  BBC News report: 'Coalition forces in Iraq have caused irreparable damage to the ancient city of Babylon, the British Museum says.'
- An Archaeologist's Weblog
  Very useful, academically-orientated site maintained by Francis Deblauwe.
- The Independent: 'At least 8,000 treasures looted from Iraq museum still untraced' (24 May 2005)
  UK national daily newspaper The Independent reports that at least 8000 of the 15000 items looted from the Iraq National Museum in Baghdad still have not been retrieved.