![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DDWIBIKHUMDHC52OO5DRC6TMHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf91b106d58c9003c01fc3910a2664daa10a761f3155038d316c1234b69315b3&width=400&height=225)
One of the artefacts returned to the Iraqi capital
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y3A25TFC6HW2EBU6BRKLNRKIWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d4ad265e261c585c4684adebde3afaa77937e02bb11dca1f94bcfedc971a07a&width=400&height=225)
Antiquities recently recovered from the US, announced in a recent trip by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, are displayed in Baghdad. All photos: AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XBE2W56K3JXWXBQDHGJIISHXR4.jpg?smart=true&auth=8c109e7d025522f83ec58220ec68b5a601d80b03f8c6faf0b98528bda01e4aa3&width=400&height=225)
The majority of the artefacts date back to ancient Mesopotamia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLYXQSDFYR4OZYXX5BORBKAE7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=0cdba6b20f5171b25d43408831b371bfb6f564182342e0fb92059c44ee3f57dd&width=400&height=225)
Pieces were also recovered from the UK, Norway, Germany and Jordan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FZUHBIELIF5AWBUT2JREM6PXIE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c74821c22ef0fb4e446ff75897474fb3d75dd502890f7db51eb5a74a71441b29&width=400&height=225)
A total of 181 artefacts were displayed in a ceremony in Baghdad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XHHVWEE7FKEZRV3AGYHF4FJOGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=041a1187c2a817855c211831286f0bc609ff61f1dca17c35ac28820ec7dd18fa&width=400&height=225)
Recently recovered antiquities from the United States of America in a recent trip by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani are displayed at the foreign ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, July 8, 2024. The majority of the artifacts date back to ancient Mesopotamia (AP Photo / Hadi Mizban)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SFMX4Y6VHZADERR76HHTVF5WVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fe70090d5e0f9fde346a1e42b4a6a5b588fc6388b70faa3b629ad59db6e6ad7&width=400&height=225)
Illegal archaeological digs also became widespread, mainly in remote areas that troops were unable to secure
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QL23ES5QXPKDLEFWJTORGS5TKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee4c0fc6808b6793855f6866e30397a9a27f74495ea517c9dba934f3f063852a&width=400&height=225)
Looters continued digging in thousands of unprotected archaeological sites in Iraq, leading to hundreds of pieces showing up on the international market
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XKAOND3V5OKXPOTXK6W4NU3V74.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c41299ab0113138f13c3ccf56eb67d257b409716a3142694fc6fbac8d16d53d&width=400&height=225)
With the help of the international community, Iraq has managed to retrieve thousands of pieces of its stolen heritage from various places
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DDWIBIKHUMDHC52OO5DRC6TMHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf91b106d58c9003c01fc3910a2664daa10a761f3155038d316c1234b69315b3&width=400&height=225)
One of the artefacts returned to the Iraqi capital
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y3A25TFC6HW2EBU6BRKLNRKIWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d4ad265e261c585c4684adebde3afaa77937e02bb11dca1f94bcfedc971a07a&width=400&height=225)
Antiquities recently recovered from the US, announced in a recent trip by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, are displayed in Baghdad. All photos: AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XBE2W56K3JXWXBQDHGJIISHXR4.jpg?smart=true&auth=8c109e7d025522f83ec58220ec68b5a601d80b03f8c6faf0b98528bda01e4aa3&width=400&height=225)
The majority of the artefacts date back to ancient Mesopotamia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLYXQSDFYR4OZYXX5BORBKAE7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=0cdba6b20f5171b25d43408831b371bfb6f564182342e0fb92059c44ee3f57dd&width=400&height=225)
Pieces were also recovered from the UK, Norway, Germany and Jordan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FZUHBIELIF5AWBUT2JREM6PXIE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c74821c22ef0fb4e446ff75897474fb3d75dd502890f7db51eb5a74a71441b29&width=400&height=225)
A total of 181 artefacts were displayed in a ceremony in Baghdad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XHHVWEE7FKEZRV3AGYHF4FJOGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=041a1187c2a817855c211831286f0bc609ff61f1dca17c35ac28820ec7dd18fa&width=400&height=225)
Recently recovered antiquities from the United States of America in a recent trip by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani are displayed at the foreign ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, July 8, 2024. The majority of the artifacts date back to ancient Mesopotamia (AP Photo / Hadi Mizban)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SFMX4Y6VHZADERR76HHTVF5WVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fe70090d5e0f9fde346a1e42b4a6a5b588fc6388b70faa3b629ad59db6e6ad7&width=400&height=225)
Illegal archaeological digs also became widespread, mainly in remote areas that troops were unable to secure
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QL23ES5QXPKDLEFWJTORGS5TKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee4c0fc6808b6793855f6866e30397a9a27f74495ea517c9dba934f3f063852a&width=400&height=225)
Looters continued digging in thousands of unprotected archaeological sites in Iraq, leading to hundreds of pieces showing up on the international market
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XKAOND3V5OKXPOTXK6W4NU3V74.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c41299ab0113138f13c3ccf56eb67d257b409716a3142694fc6fbac8d16d53d&width=400&height=225)
With the help of the international community, Iraq has managed to retrieve thousands of pieces of its stolen heritage from various places
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DDWIBIKHUMDHC52OO5DRC6TMHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf91b106d58c9003c01fc3910a2664daa10a761f3155038d316c1234b69315b3&width=400&height=225)
One of the artefacts returned to the Iraqi capital