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| A replica of the Ishtar Gate, located at the entrance of the ruins of Babylon |
BAGHDAD - military forces and U.S. contractors suspected of causing severe damage to the heritage site of Babylon in Iraq after the U.S. invasion in 2003, according to a new report launched by the United Nations.
The report said that a number of important structures were damaged and the historic site is undergoing a process of excavation and destruction.
However, the UN cultural agency officials stressed that the damage was probably not started when U.S. troops arrived, or end when U.S. troops leave.
The U.S. military denied the claims and argued that the looting of Babylonian will only get worse if U.S. troops were not in Iraq.
The latest report was presented on Thursday in the city of Paris by the United Nations cultural agency, UNESCO.
However, the UN cultural agency officials stressed that the damage was probably not started when U.S. troops arrived, or end when U.S. troops leave.
The U.S. military denied the claims and argued that the looting of Babylonian will only get worse if U.S. troops were not in Iraq.
The latest report was presented on Thursday in the city of Paris by the United Nations cultural agency, UNESCO.
The report completed after a five-year investigation carried out by the Iraqi people and academics, some of whom had previously shown a very critical attitude to the damage occurred right when the U.S. forces stationed in Babylon in 2003 and 2004.
4,000-year-old city located in the south of Baghdad are the locations where located famous hanging gardens of Babylon and is part of the seven wonders of the world from ancient civilizations.
The UNESCO report wrote that U.S. troops and contractors deliberately digging a long trench. The U.S. does not respect the historic sites such as the trench was dug through the length of the founding location of the site of Babylon. The U.S. then flatten the top of the hill with a bulldozer and run heavy vehicles over the fragile ancient path that was once a sacred place.
Experts say that, among a number of old buildings were damaged by irresponsible hands, one of which is the Gate of Ishtar, and a road that is used for the procession.
4,000-year-old city located in the south of Baghdad are the locations where located famous hanging gardens of Babylon and is part of the seven wonders of the world from ancient civilizations.
The UNESCO report wrote that U.S. troops and contractors deliberately digging a long trench. The U.S. does not respect the historic sites such as the trench was dug through the length of the founding location of the site of Babylon. The U.S. then flatten the top of the hill with a bulldozer and run heavy vehicles over the fragile ancient path that was once a sacred place.
Experts say that, among a number of old buildings were damaged by irresponsible hands, one of which is the Gate of Ishtar, and a road that is used for the procession.
John Curtis, an archaeologist from the British Museum, who has visited Babylon, saying: "After I saw with my own eyes, it is true that there were heavily damaged in there."
He added that the carved dragon-shaped symbol on the Ishtar gate appears to have been damaged by ignorant hands, strangely enough, the action is actually happening right destruction when the region was under the control of U.S. forces.
There are many ancient Babylonian artifacts looted by the archaeologists of Europe in the 19th century and ironically is now proudly displayed in a famous museum in the world located in Europe.
In order not to appear to discredit the U.S., UNESCO later said that looting and selling antiquities black market continued when they were "handed back" to the Iraqi government by the end of 2004.
He added that the carved dragon-shaped symbol on the Ishtar gate appears to have been damaged by ignorant hands, strangely enough, the action is actually happening right destruction when the region was under the control of U.S. forces.
There are many ancient Babylonian artifacts looted by the archaeologists of Europe in the 19th century and ironically is now proudly displayed in a famous museum in the world located in Europe.
In order not to appear to discredit the U.S., UNESCO later said that looting and selling antiquities black market continued when they were "handed back" to the Iraqi government by the end of 2004.
The organization is working to make Babylon as a world cultural heritage site, despite UNESCO officials said that the severity of the damage at this time, it must first estimated how much of the cost of restoration and protection will be spent on the historic site.
UNESCO had previously refused to promote Babylon as a world cultural heritage site. It is based on a process of restoration was first implemented during the reign of the late Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, has changed the structure of the original buildings of the historic site.
UNESCO had previously refused to promote Babylon as a world cultural heritage site. It is based on a process of restoration was first implemented during the reign of the late Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, has changed the structure of the original buildings of the historic site.
(Various Source)
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