Who is responsible for destructing such a historical place……I really felt extremely disturbed after reading these news….Americans have destroyed the ancient city of Babylon… Let me tell you one thing…….In USA, as per State and Federal regulations, no one and I mean, No One, can dismantle or disturb the natural habitat, natural plants or any other structure of national significance without getting appropriate archaeological permits. I help my clients all the times with these permits and I know what is at stake if someone tries to remove one single Cactus tree in Phoenix or San Diego without the permission of State or Federal Agencies. Ok Fine…..No Problem. I appreciate those regulations but when it is outside USA, these idiots are crushing 2,600-year-old pavements in Babylon by driving their military vehicles on them. Allah o Akbar…what a pity…
http://7am.com/cgi-bin/wires02.cgi?1000_2005011506.htm
Fears For Babylon Relics
2:26 pm PST, 15 January 2005
A British Museum report says United States-led forces using Iraq’s ancient city of Babylon as a military base have caused substantial damage to one of the world’s most renowned archaeological treasures.
The report says American and Polish military vehicles had crushed 2,600-year-old pavements in the city.
It also added that archaeological fragments had been used to fill sandbags.
Museum spokesperson John Curtis says it’s just like establishing a military camp around the Great Pyramid in Egypt or around Stonehenge in Britain.
Mr Curtis, invited to visit Babylon by Iraqi antiquities experts, says he had found cracks and gaps made by people who had apparently tried to gouge out the decorated bricks forming the famous dragons of the city’s Ishtar Gate.
The camp will be handed over to the Iraqi Culture Ministry.