Thu Jan 09 04:38:59 UTC 2025: ## Iraqi Archaeologists Piece Together Shattered Treasures of Ancient Nimrud
**Mosul, Iraq –** A decade after the Islamic State (IS) group ravaged the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud, Iraqi archaeologists are painstakingly restoring its priceless artifacts. The site, once a jewel of the Assyrian empire, was devastated in 2014, with IS fighters destroying countless monuments and artifacts.
Despite the colossal task of reassembling tens of thousands of shattered fragments, archaeologists are making significant progress. Over 35,000 fragments have been recovered from the site, located 30 kilometers south of Mosul, including pieces of bas-reliefs, sculptures, and decorated slabs depicting mythical creatures and scenes from the reign of King Ashurnasirpal II, nearly 3,000 years ago.
“Every time we find a piece and bring it to its original place, it’s like a new discovery,” said Abdel Ghani Ghadi, a leading archaeologist on the project. The painstaking work involves meticulously piecing together shards of what were once complete artworks, revealing intricate details carved into stone millennia ago. Partially reconstructed lamassu (Assyrian deities with human heads, bull or lion bodies, and bird wings) and tablets bearing cuneiform text are among the recovered treasures.
The restoration project, which began in 2018 after a period of interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is a collaboration between Iraqi archaeologists and the Academic Research Institute, supported by the Smithsonian Institution and the United States. While approximately 70% of the collection and classification work at the Assyrian palace site is complete, a year of fieldwork remains before full-scale restoration can commence. The project aims to preserve Nimrud’s cultural heritage for future generations. The site’s importance is underscored by Mr. Ghadi, who stated, “These sculptures are the treasures of Mesopotamia…Nimrud is the heritage of all of humanity, a history that goes back 3,000 years.”
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