Nineveh - INA
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities announced on Wednesday the discovery of a two-meter-high stele dating back to the reign of King Ashurbanipal in the 7th century BC. The discovery was made during the restoration of several archaeological sites damaged during the liberation of Mosul from ISIS.
Ruwaid Muwaffaq, Inspector of Antiquities and Heritage in Nineveh, stated at a press conference attended by a correspondent from the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "An important Assyrian stele dating back to the reign of King Ashurbanipal has been discovered. It represents a significant addition to Iraq's cultural heritage and reflects the grandeur of the Assyrian Empire."
He added, "The stele was discovered on June 6th by an Iraqi-American archaeological mission, entirely by Iraqi personnel. It dates back to the reign of King Ashurbanipal between 668 and 627 BC and commemorates his architectural achievements in the city of Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire."
He stated that "the head of the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage directed the transfer of the obelisk to the headquarters of the Nineveh Antiquities and Heritage Inspectorate for initial maintenance and preservation work, after which it will be subject to specialized scientific studies, the results of which will be announced later."
He explained that "the discovery came as part of the rehabilitation work on archaeological sites that were damaged after the liberation of Mosul. The General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage signed a number of agreements with foreign missions, including a mission from the University of Chicago, to work on the restoration of the Gate of the God Shamash." He noted that "during the removal of rubble, parts of the obelisk were found, and archaeological teams began searching until all its parts were located."
He added that "the obelisk is approximately two meters high and one meter and fifty-five centimeters wide, and it was carved from Mosul limestone, the same type of stone used in most Assyrian murals and inscriptions."
He noted that "the front of the stele bears a relief carving of King Ashurbanipal, flanked by two figures representing Assyrian personalities, while the back contains cuneiform inscriptions that, according to initial readings, refer to the architectural achievements witnessed in the city of Nineveh during the king's reign."
He added that "the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, in coordination with the archaeological mission, is continuing to study the stele and assemble its fragments, in preparation for deciding on its display, whether by returning it to its original location at the Gate of the God Shamash or transferring it to the Mosul Museum of Civilization."
He stated that "this discovery confirms that the city of Nineveh still holds many archaeological treasures, and that excavation work is ongoing at numerous sites that have not yet been fully explored, promising the discovery of further cultural evidence that documents the history of the Assyrian Empire, in conjunction with the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage's efforts to rehabilitate and maintain damaged sites."