Sunday, February 3, 2019 - 11:15
The Center for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (CACHE) at American University of Iraq, Sulaimani announced February 3, 2019 that it received a $6,500 AUD ($5,500 USD) grant to conduct research at the Ashur World Heritage site in central Iraq from the Direct Aid Program (DAP) fund of the Embassy of Australia in Baghdad.
In 2018, Dr. Tobin Hartnell, Director of CACHE, received permission from Dr. Qaiss Rashid, the Director of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH), to conduct a surface survey and ceramic collections at the World Heritage Site of Ashur. The site and its environs was attacked by the so-called Islamic State in May 2015, and are believed to be contaminated with Explosive Hazards (EHs) and Explosive Remnants of War (ERWs).
In February, the Australian Embassy provided a small grant to CACHE to fund its first season of work at the site. The first season will collect aerial photography in order to assess any recent damage or looting, and conduct an up-to-date on-the-ground assessment of the various monuments at the site. An report on the initial findings is to be released in the coming months.
CACHE would like to thank the Australian Embassy of Iraq for supporting this project.