![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3RO23CVEQZEYLE3LHY6SEPL2GQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2dfefd7ac2f309bc23ae9736a992907c5ecfb31391bfad2333a89075615e0918&width=400&height=225)
The Assyrian civilisation arose about 4,500 years ago and at one point extended from the Mediterranean to Iran.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YFSDKYV57NEJZLVIPPJITBNHKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=77c4cbd412c1c74944e5aa52e8ea86dc341007b1d079ccb62957456e64fcf52c&width=400&height=225)
An Iraqi-American excavation team unearths rock carvings in a major archaeological site inside the northern city of Mosul. All photos: Ministry of Culture
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JE3L7HJKLJH6TEAM5JAYAVNUEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d6a4a669a40498b18ddd1f81853ce3dd6e36e2fa1a1130b1fe39ef899d3cc2f&width=400&height=225)
Eight slabs were found at Mashki Gate, or Al Maska in Arabic.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GPJ4B2WUARALDJKSVHGKPRMS3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=47230a3185240e8d9d60a3d8fb251e1c9dfe44a1577b324bb16c71905cd28218&width=400&height=225)
The stones date back to the era of the Assyrian King Sinharib who reigned from 705-681 BC.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P2EZ3NTEVVGQPLHAFYGJXKBIJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=663e5f5ba75f27b023b2913015fd7a39d726e11b9a14382a5e224dd47365b29e&width=400&height=225)
The stones show war scenes, as well as palm trees, grapes, pomegranates and figs.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S64L5ZZDX5GFPJSVGNWMR23QY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a26a33e7cb277eb657d8a8358724f2bf39be2e3b11d61dff26e92801ef589bd6&width=400&height=225)
The Mashki Gate was bulldozed along with other gates during the city’s occupation by ISIS in 2016, with the destruction shared widely online.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K5633SPQV5CBLA2HTBYGSWPLNI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d83fee297bdeeae4b08de74f164a62410418c3cba22b8ae7b6b2019cc96982ef&width=400&height=225)
The Mashki Gate's $1.1 million restoration project is being conducted in co-operation with Aliph Foundation, an international alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3RO23CVEQZEYLE3LHY6SEPL2GQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2dfefd7ac2f309bc23ae9736a992907c5ecfb31391bfad2333a89075615e0918&width=400&height=225)
The Assyrian civilisation arose about 4,500 years ago and at one point extended from the Mediterranean to Iran.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YFSDKYV57NEJZLVIPPJITBNHKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=77c4cbd412c1c74944e5aa52e8ea86dc341007b1d079ccb62957456e64fcf52c&width=400&height=225)
An Iraqi-American excavation team unearths rock carvings in a major archaeological site inside the northern city of Mosul. All photos: Ministry of Culture
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JE3L7HJKLJH6TEAM5JAYAVNUEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d6a4a669a40498b18ddd1f81853ce3dd6e36e2fa1a1130b1fe39ef899d3cc2f&width=400&height=225)
Eight slabs were found at Mashki Gate, or Al Maska in Arabic.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GPJ4B2WUARALDJKSVHGKPRMS3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=47230a3185240e8d9d60a3d8fb251e1c9dfe44a1577b324bb16c71905cd28218&width=400&height=225)
The stones date back to the era of the Assyrian King Sinharib who reigned from 705-681 BC.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P2EZ3NTEVVGQPLHAFYGJXKBIJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=663e5f5ba75f27b023b2913015fd7a39d726e11b9a14382a5e224dd47365b29e&width=400&height=225)
The stones show war scenes, as well as palm trees, grapes, pomegranates and figs.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S64L5ZZDX5GFPJSVGNWMR23QY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a26a33e7cb277eb657d8a8358724f2bf39be2e3b11d61dff26e92801ef589bd6&width=400&height=225)
The Mashki Gate was bulldozed along with other gates during the city’s occupation by ISIS in 2016, with the destruction shared widely online.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K5633SPQV5CBLA2HTBYGSWPLNI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d83fee297bdeeae4b08de74f164a62410418c3cba22b8ae7b6b2019cc96982ef&width=400&height=225)
The Mashki Gate's $1.1 million restoration project is being conducted in co-operation with Aliph Foundation, an international alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3RO23CVEQZEYLE3LHY6SEPL2GQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2dfefd7ac2f309bc23ae9736a992907c5ecfb31391bfad2333a89075615e0918&width=400&height=225)
The Assyrian civilisation arose about 4,500 years ago and at one point extended from the Mediterranean to Iran.