Reply #41: Lady of Warka, 3200 B.C. recovered after looting. [View All]

The images showed how grounds relatively undisturbed prior to the US invasion are nowpockmarked with looters' pits.

Russell, who had criticized the US troops for their inadequate protection of museums and archeological sites after they captured Baghdad in April 2003, also showed slides of recovered artifacts, including the prized alabaster Lady of Warka mask...

...At the conference, specialists said that 15,000 objects remained missing, while just over 3,323 have been returned. There is evidence that thieves tried to smuggle out more than 1,000 objects through Jordan and 300 via Syria...

...Others said the lack of knowledge in cultural matters was a main reason for the conflict between the military and the archeologists.

From: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/01/09/archeologists_recount_actions_of_bold_looters/

Boston.com, January 9, 2005