Iraq Retrieves Rare Artifact from UK

The Iraqi Embassy in the United Kingdom received a rare artifact representing an Assyrian tablet forming the upper part of a (winged genie) dating back to between the years (883 and 859 BC), which decorated the northwestern palace at the archaeological site of Nimrud. It weighs approximately (333 kilograms) and is square in shape with dimensions (1.16 meters wide, 1.13 meters long). Iraqi Ambassador Mohamed Jaafar Al-SadrIn, to the United Kingdom in his speech, pointed out the historical importance of this rare piece, which increased after the groups destroyed the Nimrud Palace in Nineveh Governorate. He stressed that the return of the tablet to its mother country represents a great historical and cultural value and would not have happened without the close relationship between the Iraqi Embassy in the United Kingdom and the Antiquities Police of the British Home Office. An official reception ceremony for the artifact was held in London, attended by representatives of the British Antiquities Police, the Br itish Museum, the British Iraqi Institute and the Nahrain Network. Source: Qatar News Agency