Archaeologist Says War with Iraq Could Destroy Ancient Treasures in the Cradle of Civilization

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Samuel M. Paley, archaeologist and professor of classics at the University at Buffalo, warns that a war with Iraq could destroy at least some of Iraq's ancient archaeological treasures.

In fact, archaeologists say the country is virtually one large archaeological site that holds the remains of many ancient settlements, some well known from historical and biblical references and some yet to be explored.

"If there is such a war," says Paley, "there is a great likelihood that when the confrontation ends, we will find that at least some of these ancient districts will have been looted, and damaged more than they were after the 1991 Gulf War."

The political decisions resulting from the 1991 war have produced some unfortunate ends for scores of Iraq's ancient archaeological sites, Paley says.

Among the causes were the severe economic sanctions against Iraq imposed. "After the war, Iraqi authorities, short of needed resources, were unable to protect many of the country's museums and archaeological sites from looting and theft by desperate and unemployed Iraqis," Paley says.