Sask. archaeology professor horrified by IS destruction of ancient artifacts

A University of Saskatchewan professor is horrified after watching a video that shows Islamic State militants completely destroying ancient Iraqi artifacts. 

Archaeology professor Chris Foley teaches his students about some of the statues that now lay in pieces in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city.

“I’m absolutely astounded and horrified by the systematic destruction,” he said, adding he believes the act is unprecedented.

One of the smashed statues includes winged human-headed bulls that were often placed as guardians outside palaces. They feature a fifth leg, in an effort to capture the movement of a horse, which is a symbol of power. 

The five-minute video shows a group of bearded men inside the Mosul Museum using hammers and drills to destroy several large statues, which are then shown chipped and in pieces. The video then shows a black-clad man at a nearby archaeological site inside Mosul, drilling through and destroying a winged-bull Assyrian protective deity that dates back to the Seventh century B.C.

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They also reportedly burned thousands of rare manuscripts and documents in the Mosul library.

The destructions are part of a campaign by the IS extremists who have destroyed a number of shrines — including Muslim holy sites — in order to eliminate what they view as heresy.

Foley emphasized the destruction is nothing compared to the bloody campaign IS militants are carrying out. However, he said he is deeply saddened by the loss of the rare artifacts which are the remains of a very sophisticated culture.

They provide an opportunity for modern society to cross reference how Assyrians and Akkadians dealt with issues such as international trade and examine how they were affected by their decisions. 

“We never have a complete vision of what those cultures were. We researched them, studied them — and these are major artifacts in that study and research — to the best of our ability today. As our society raises different questions and different issues, we can go back to that material and say, ‘Wait a minute, how did they did with these issues?’” Foley explained.

Among the most important sites under the militants’ control are four ancient cities — Ninevah, Kalhu, Dur Sharrukin and Ashur — which were at different times the capital of the mighty Assyrian Empire.

A professor at the Archaeology College in Mosul confirmed to the Associated Press that the two sites depicted in the video are the city museum and a site known as Nirgal Gate, one of several gates to the capital of the Assyrian Empire, Ninevah.

The Assyrians first arose around 2500 B.C. and at one point ruled over a realm stretching from the Mediterranean coast to what is present-day Iran. Also in danger is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hatra, which is thought to have been built in the Third or Second century B.C. by the Seleucid Empire. It flourished during the First and Second centuries as a religious and trading centre.

“It is purposeless. There is nothing to be gained by doing this. What they are trying to do is push our buttons,” Foley said, adding it seems to be working.

He has never visited the site of the artifacts because of the unrest in the area.

“This is an attempt to obliterate historical memory and create in a sense a universal amnesia and I think it’s absolutely horrific.”

 – With files from the Canadian Press

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On Twitter:@princealbertnow