Voxpop
Lamia Al-Gailani, research associate,
University of London
“The damage to the antiquities
and heritage of Iraq over the
past three decades of war is
catastrophic. Despite all the
protective measures put in
place by archaeologists, looters
and terrorists are intent on
robbing Iraq of its history and
heritage.
“The State Board of
Antiquities and Heritage is
helpless in preventing this. It lacks expertise in crisis
management and recording
collections with three-
dimensional photographs.
The digitising of collections
is the most urgent measure
so we at least have a record.
A partnership with a western
organisation is needed.”
Alice Stevenson, curator, Petrie Museum of
Egyptian Archaeology
“We need to advocate and
mobilise support for our Iraqi and Syrian colleagues by fostering a deeper
understanding in the UK of the
importance of their heritage.
When Iraqi and Syrian
archaeological material is
encountered in our museums, it
is often distanced from modern
territories through labels such
as ‘Mesopotamian’ or ‘Near
Eastern’.
“Museums here need to
make explicit the links between
this colonial legacy and present-
day nations and their
challenges. This includes the
consequences of looting, the
networks for which start and
end in western markets.”
Jonathan Tubb, keeper, department of the
Middle East, British Museum
“At the present time, very little
can be done on the ground in
Iraq and Syria to prevent
further destruction of cultural
heritage in areas controlled by Islamic State militants other
than to record and monitor the
events happening there.
“But what we can do is to support our colleagues in
those countries by providing
intensive training in emergency
heritage management, here in
the UK and in their own
institutions, so that when these
countries manage to return to
effective governmental control,
there will be a fully trained
task force ready to face the
challenges.”
Eleanor Robson, professor of ancient Middle Eastern history, UCL
“It will be years before
museums in Syria and Islamic State-occupied areas
of Iraq are ready to open again.
Meanwhile, lots of UK
collections hold Middle
Eastern objects and almost
everyone in the Middle East
these days has a smartphone
or tablet.
“All the raw
ingredients are available to
create a virtual, mobile-
friendly museum in Arabic,
drawing on the artefacts and
expertise of one or more UK
museums and universities. It would be cheap and an
effective complement to
rebuilding, restocking and
retraining."