Robbing the Cradle of Civilization
The Looting of Iraq's Ancient Treasures
A film by Robin Benger for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
It
has been said that the first casualty of war is truth; the second casualty
of war is history. Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein by coalition
forces the violence in that country has obscured its place in history
as the seat of Western civilization. This documentary reminds us of the
7000 year old history of the land that was called Mesopotamia with its
rich culture that lay buried, to be retrieved by archaeologists during
the past two hundred years.
The infamous looting of the Baghdad Museum after the fall of Baghdad is chronicled in this documentary. McGuire Gibson, archaeologist at the University of Chicago, had warned the Pentagon to protect the Museum. His was only one voice from the international scholarly community. Yet we see that there were four days of random looting, unprotected by allied forces. The Chairman of the Museum begged for intervention, but it took several more days for help to come.
In addition to the Museum, sites all over the country Nippur (the seat of Sumerian civilization,) Ur and Samara appetite for antiquities. This took place despite the 1936 law in Iraq that all artifacts must remain in the country, and the 1976 UN convention banning purchase of looted antiquities. Nothing can stop the smuggling, often through Jordan, of objects eagerly sought by wealthy collectors all over the world. The national heritage has been pillaged.
"Highly Recommended. This is media at its educational best. It would make an excellent discussion piece in a high school or college history or art class or for a general public library night. Excellent production values and the interesting yet controversial topic would make this a fine addition to any video collection." Mary Northrup, Maple Woods Community College for EMRO
"Interviews with dealers and curators paint a vivid picture of an international tragedy. Recommended", Library Journal
42 min. Video or DVD. Sale $325. Video rental $65.
