Treasures dating to 900 B.C. found in secret Iraqi vault (AP)

AP via The Orlando Sentinel ^ | June 8, 2003 | Hamza Hendawi

[summer]

Treasures dating to 900 B.C. found in secret Iraqi vault

By Hamza Hendawi | The Associated Press
Posted June 8, 2003

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The world-famous treasures of Nimrud, unaccounted for since Baghdad fell two months ago, have been located in good condition in the country's Central Bank -- in a secret vault-inside-a-vault submerged in sewage water, U.S. occupation authorities said Saturday.

They also said that fewer than 50 items from the collection of the Iraqi National Museum's main exhibition still are missing after the looting and destruction that followed the U.S. capture of Baghdad.

...The treasures, one of the 20th century's most significant archaeological finds, have not been seen in public since the early 1990s. Their discovery will help assuage archaeologists' worries about the country's ancient treasures.

...a team from the British Museum will join Iraqi experts to find the best way to protect the artifacts.

Copyright © 2003, Orlando Sentinel

[summer]

They also said that fewer than 50 items from the collection of the Iraqi National Museum's main exhibition still are missing after the looting and destruction that followed the U.S. capture of Baghdad...

If only "50" missing pieces is correct, I wish everyone would report that, since I have heard so many different numbers in this matter.

Also, this is great news re the newest discovery -- finding the treasures of Nimrud.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[jalisco555]

Thanks for the ping, Summer. I've always had an amateur's interest in archeology and I'm glad the stories of mass looting of artifacts in Iraq were wrong (they were lies, actually). The jewelry from the period described in the article is absolutely exquisite. I've seen examples of it in other collections. I hope that this collection eventually gets to tour. It would be a nice thank-you gesture from the Iraqi people.

[windchime]

"-- in a secret vault-inside-a-vault submerged in sewage water..........."

Thanks for the ping, summer.

Saddam was certainly good at hiding things! So glad we made the find.