Iraq Museum: The Loss of a Nation’s Memory, The

Location: Iraq Length: 50 min

In April 2003, American troops entered Baghdad and the fog of war descended over the city. The staff of the National Museum of Iraq, under Director Dr. Donny George, were forced to abandon the Museum temporarily. On their return, they found the Museum, which houses key Mesopotamian collections, badly vandalized and much of its contents damaged or stolen. On 24 May 2008, Dr. George spoke to the audience at The Archaeology Channel International Film and Video Festival, recounting those events, the aftermath and the lessons to be learned.

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Produced in 2008 by Archaeological Legacy Institute

Web links:

Donny George, Protector of Iraq’s Ancient Riches, Dies at 60 (NY Times)

The Archaeology Channel International Film and Video Festival

Iraq Museum Database (Oriental Institute, University of Chicago)

Iraq Museum Still Too Damaged to Reopen (National Geographic)

The Iraq Museum (State Board of Antiquities & Heritage. Baghdad, Iraq)