Italian authorities have returned a valuable stone tablet, dating back 2,800 years, to Iraq. The artifact, bearing complete cuneiform text inscribed in the ancient Babylonian alphabet, was handed over to Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid during a ceremony in Bologna last week.
The circumstances surrounding the tablet’s journey to Italy and how it came into the possession of authorities in the 1980s remain unknown. However, Iraqi Culture Minister Ahmed Badrani suggested that it could have been discovered during archaeological excavations near the Mosul Dam, which was constructed during the same period.
Expressing gratitude for the collaboration with Italy, President Rashid commended the return of the stolen artifact and affirmed his commitment to reclaiming all archaeological pieces of Iraqi history that are currently located abroad. He emphasized Iraq’s historical significance as the birthplace of the world’s first writing, citing the presence of the renowned Bayt al-Hikmah, an eighth-century institution known for housing an extensive library covering diverse subjects such as science, art, mathematics, medicine, and philosophy.
The repatriation of this 2,800-year-old stone tablet serves as a notable step in preserving Iraq’s cultural heritage and strengthening international efforts to combat the illicit trade of antiquities. It stands as a testament to the ongoing collaboration between nations to protect and restore valuable historical artifacts to their rightful origins.
