Assyrian artefacts from Mosul displayed at Iraq's National Museum, Baghdad, April, 2016 [Getty]
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Archaeologists
documenting IS' destruction of historic sites in Mosul have discovered an
Assyrian temple dating back to 600 BC beneath the ruins of a once popular
pilgrimage site.
The
brutal military campaigns of the Islamic State group have claimed thousands of
lives and led to the destruction of priceless artefacts and ancient ruins.
Many of those lost forever are central to Iraq and Syria's rich cultural
history and identity.
According
to a recent report from the Iraqi Kurdistan regional government as many as 100
sacred buildings have been damaged or raised to the ground by the extremist
group in Iraq.
These
include historic sites in the ancient Iraqi city of Nimrud and Hatra.
Over the border in Syria, IS has also destroyed ancient sites including the
majestic Arch of Triumph in the ancient Roman city of Palymra.
However,
among the chaos and destruction wreaked by IS, a group of archaeologists in
Mosul have discovered a previously unknown Assyrian palace on a hilltop
liberated by Iraqi forces last month.
In
2014, IS militants destroyed the Tomb of the Prophet Jonah, or Yunus in the
Quran, in 2014, shortly after embarking on a series of lighting raids capturing
vast swathes of territory straddling Iraq and Syria.
However,
archaeologists have revealed to The Telegraph that IS militants also
tunnelled below the Nabi Unis Shrine in their search for artefacts to loot.
The
extremist group is said to have made millions from the black-market trade of
artefacts, even setting up a department to handle "war spoils".
While
experts have noted that IS most likely looted priceless artefacts from the
site, they have also expressed excitement at what remains.
"There's
a huge amount of history down there, not just ornamental stones,"
Professor Eleanor Robson, chair of the British Institute for the Study of Iraq,
told The Telegraph.
"It
is an opportunity to finally map the treasure-house of the world's first great
empire, from the period of its greatest success."
Among
the priceless artefacts located in the area since it was liberated are
cuneiform inscriptions believed to date back to 672 BC and the rule of Assyrian
King Esarhaddon – who thousands of years ago rebuilt the city of Babylon after
it was destroyed by his father.
Other
discoveries include ancient Assyrian stone sculptures depicting ancient
mythological figures.
A
six person Iraqi team is conducting emergency documentation of archaeological
sites around Mosul with remote consultation from the British Institute for the
Study of Iraq and other international organisations.
It is hoped this will allow achaelogists to map what has been lost to the
jihadis, and retrieive the remaining treasures that are key to Iraq's identity.
Iraqi special forces guard the Nabi Yusuf shrine in Mosul, January 2017 [AFP]
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