Chapter 9. German Archaeological Institute’s Protection Of Cultural Heritage In Iraq And Elsewhere In The Middle East

Abstract

The German Archaeological Institute (DAI) emerged 180 years ago out of the Istituto di Correspondenza Archeologica in Rome. Their purpose was to collect, document, and publish information about ancient objects and sites and thereby foster the flow of correspondence between archaeologists throughout Europe. Representative departments and offices of the DAI are located in most of its host countries: Egypt, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Spain, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen. The archaeological work of the DAI in Iraq continued during the Iran-Iraq war in 1980-89 and during the economic embargo imposed by the United Nations on Iraq in 1990-2003, albeit irregularly. In view of the ongoing and extensive plundering of archaeological sites in Iraq, however, the DAI's main efforts now are aimed at awakening an awareness among the public of the immeasurable value that ancient civilizations in Iraq and elsewhere represent for world cultural heritage.Keywords: cultural heritage; German Archaeological Institute (DAI); Iraq