from The Christian Science Monitor -
Iraq's antiquities garner international attention
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The worsening situation in Iraq as widespread plundering of historical and archaeological sites continues and protection measures become increasingly ineffective.

Also see earlier posts on the Iraq situation.
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from The Art Newspaper -
Archaeological sites in south Iraq have not been looted, say experts
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from The New Scientist -
Archaeologists to refuse help over possible Iran strike
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Two contrasting perspectives - but the larger issue may be that in all conflicts, heritage preservation takes a beating.

In the report from Art Newspaper, although no evidence of further looting was found since the Iraq invasion, the report did note that damage did occur as a direct result of the invasion (carried out by the armed forces of both sides of the conflict). The seeming "callousness" of the archaeologists cited in the second report in New Scientist is perhaps more understandable in light of this.

In any case, the problem is not with the archaeologists but with politicians behaving as tyrants.
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from The Art Newspaper.com
Getty Trust and World Monuments Fund team up for Iraq conservation
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This is the latest in a string of laudable international efforts to help address and restore the rich cultural heritage legacy in Iraq - which at times has been seen as rightfully belonging to the entire human race. However, it also brings to mind the rather troublesome implication that, unless a country is dramatically propelled into the international news arena (whether due to war or other man-made or natural disasters), such commendable efforts can often languish at the sidelines for want of financial resources and expertise.

from The Art Newspaper
Looters hot on the heels of the bomb disposal experts
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and
Human Rights Act invoked to demolish listed building in the UK
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and
from The Christian Science Monitor
'Pit bull' dogs Iraq Museum looters
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and
from The Wall Street Journal
Saving Iraq's Treasures
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The continuing destruction and pillage of heritage materials happen not because of a lack of national and international laws to limit such damage. Instead, it points to a failure in enforcement, education and fostering a sense of community ownership.

from The New York Times -
When Ancient Artifacts Become Political Pawns
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"But the larger truth is that all patrimony arguments ultimately live or die in the morally murky realm of global relations, meaning that modern governments like Egypt’s and Iraq’s may win sympathy today by counting on Western guilt about colonialism when asking for the return of art from ancient sites within their current borders. At the same time there’s no international clamor for Russia to return storerooms of treasures it stole from Germany at the end of the war, or, for that matter, for Sweden to fork over the spoils of a war 350 years ago with Denmark. It’s about emotion, not airtight logic and consistent policy."

Perhaps, the way to take all these twists and turns of events is to realise that when a field of professional work becomes sufficiently mature, petty politics moves right in. Welcome to the world ...
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from National Geographic News -
Great Wall of China Overrun, Damaged, Disneyfied
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from Bloomberg.com -
War, Tourists, Climate, Gazprom Threaten 100 Sites, Fund Says
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from The Guardian -
Shrines devastated as militants target Iraq's ancient heritage
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Rush to modernity 'devastating China's cultural heritage'
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Unesco considers Tower for danger list
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Continual devastation to the world's built cultural heritage - some probably preventable, while others, perhaps, inevitable - is an ominous sign that long-term concerns are sacrificed for short-term gains. The road to universal preservation of the cultural heritage of the world is still a very long one, indeed.
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from The Guardian -
British Museum and army team up in move to rescue Iraq's heritage
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As the Chinese saying goes:"Mending the fence after loosing all the sheep." Too little, too late, one might add.
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from The Times
Rocked to our foundations
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from The Washington Post
What Was and Never Shall Be
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from The Guardian
Tomb raiders
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As we approach the thrid anniversary of the recent war, it is timely to be reminded of the fragility of our collective cultural heritage in the face of unbridled aggression. If the destruction of tangible cultural hertiage is a war crime - albeit a minor one at that - then the evidence in Iraq was plenty enough (see here and here). Earlier reports of looting and lax security in the aftermath of the invasion also cast a pall over the claims of "freedom" and "liberation" - however noble-sounding that might be.

from The Guardian
Babylon wrecked by war
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A somewhat late confirmation of what had been previously reported - that the invasion of Iraq endangered unique and significant heritage sites. Will this latest report make any difference in terms of safe-guarding these sites from further destruction? Only time will tell.

from Universes in Universe
Contemporary Art from the Islamic World
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An interesting and wide-ranging set of articles. All the more poignant and necessary because of recent events in Iraq.