Iraqi Ambassador to the UK Salih Husain Ali (L) and British Minister of the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt with an Iraqi 'kudurru' at the British Museum in London. EPA
Iraqi Ambassador to the UK Salih Husain Ali (L) and British Minister of the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt with an Iraqi 'kudurru' at the British Museum in London. EPA
Iraqi Ambassador to the UK Salih Husain Ali (L) and British Minister of the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt with an Iraqi 'kudurru' at the British Museum in London. EPA
Iraqi Ambassador to the UK Salih Husain Ali (L) and British Minister of the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt with an Iraqi 'kudurru' at the British Museum in London. EPA

Rare Babylonian artefact seized in the UK returned to Iraq


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A valuable Babylonian cuneiform stone was handed back to Iraq by the British government on Tuesday, after an attempt to smuggle it into the country was foiled at Heathrow airport.

Dating from the second millennium BC, the antiquity is worthy of the world’s greatest museums and valued at hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The object will be formally handed over by the UK government to the Iraqi embassy during a ceremony held at the British Museum.

“This is a great example of cultural diplomacy in action and demonstrates positive UK-Iraqi relations,” Michael Ellis, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, said. “We are committed to protecting and preserving cultural heritage, both in the UK and across the world, and I am delighted that this important artefact is being returned.”

UK Border Force seized the object at London's Heathrow airport in 2012 and it was later identified at the British Museum as one of the few surviving examples of a Babylonian kudurru, an official document drawn up on the instructions of a Babylonian king to record the gift of lands or other benefits bestowed on a named individual who has rendered particular service to the crown.

Fewer of 200 examples of this type of Babylonian inscribed stone are estimated to exist today. Almost all of them come from the territory of Iraq.

Many archaeological sites in southern Iraq were badly looted between 1994 and 2004 and this artefact was most likely found during this phase of illicit activity, according to an assessment by the museum.

Alistair Burt, Minister of the Middle East and North Africa said he "witnessed the extraordinary strides Iraq has made since the fall of Daesh [ISIS]." "Today's repatriation, in conjunction with the British Museum, is just one example of the UK's ongoing commitment to helping Iraq create for itself prosperous and secure future following the fall of Daesh," he added.

Salih Husain Ali, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the UK, said “it is very important for Iraq to regain ownership of its looted artefacts which are part of our country and nation’s rich culture. We are grateful to the British authorities and in particular to the British Museum for the extraordinary efforts in identifying and returning this invaluable piece of Iraq’s heritage.”

While the description has been lost to the damage suffered to the lower part of the kudurru, the text is thought to have been a summary of the historical background to the royal gift. Next came a description of the gift, in this case a grant of land. A list of witnesses to the gift is followed by a series of protective curses threatening anyone who might dispute the gift or damage the kudurru. It is likely to have been placed in a temple, but it is uncertain which one.

The smuggler had tried to take it into the UK claiming it was a “carved stone for home decoration.”

RESULTS FOR STAGE 4

Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.

Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Scorecard

Scotland 220

K Coetzer 95, J Siddique 3-49, R Mustafa 3-35

UAE 224-3 in 43,5 overs

C Suri 67, B Hameed 63 not out

RESULTS

1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

Gulf rugby

Who’s won what so far in 2018/19

Western Clubs Champions League: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Dubai Hurricanes
West Asia Premiership: Bahrain

What’s left

UAE Conference

March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Hurricanes II v Al Ain Amblers, Jebel Ali Dragons II v Dubai Tigers

March 29, final

UAE Premiership

March 22, play-offs: 
Dubai Exiles v Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Hurricanes

March 29, final