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As It Happens

ISIS destroys ancient 'cradle of civilization' in Iraq

ISIS reportedly uses bulldozers to destroy valuable ancient ruins in the northern Iraqi city of Nimrud
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An Iraqi woman walks in front of Assyrian mural sculptures July 3, 2003 as the Baghdad museum briefly re-opens to display ancient Nimrud treasures. (Reuters)
As It Happens7:08ISIS destroys parts of "cradle of civilization" in Iraq

ISIS is already well-known for killing, executing and otherwise mistreating many people in both In Iraq and Syria. But now it seems they are also targeting archaeological sites.

UNESCO is calling it a war crime.

One of the ISIS targets is the northern Iraqi city of Nimrud, one of the 20th century's most important archaeological finds. Nimrud is home to countless ancient ruins including the tombs of two Assyrian Queens. It is considered to have been one of the capitals of the Assyrian Empire in Mesopotamia, also known as the "cradle of civilization".

Suzanne Bott (University of Arizona)

Suzanne Bott, formerly with Iraq's Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage, says she's horrified by what happened. Bott tells As It Happens guest-host Peter Armstrong: "the two Queens of Assyria had been buried, together, with approximately 200 pounds of solid gold, jewellery, crowns...ceremonial objects, and those are just priceless beyond compare". 

Many of the most valuable historical treasures found in Nimrud were moved to museums in Baghdad and England, but it's difficult to estimate the value of the artefacts destroyed by ISIS in the ancient city. (Radu Sigheti/Reuters)

Bott tells Peter Armstrong that she agrees with UNESCO describing what's happened there as a war crime: "I do...I see it as a war crime and a crime against humanity because these locations...are recognized as a part of our shared humanity and our cultural history, and by damaging in this way...all of humanity and future generations suffer because of this".

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