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Archaeological excavations in Iraq continue despite security chaos

In spite of the precarious situation in Iraq, a series of excavations is still uncovering the buried historical ruins in Iraq, where the ruins of Ur are only a sample of the landmarks that are yet to be unveiled.
People stand on the steps of the Ziggurat of Ur ruins near Nassiriya, 300 km (186 miles) southeast of Baghdad, January 23, 2014. Ur's palaces and temples lie in ruins, but its hulking Ziggurat still dominates the desert flatlands of what is now southern Iraq, as it has for millennia. British archaeologists are now back in the area despite the insecurity in Iraq that had kept them - and all but the most adventurous tourists - away from one of the world's oldest cities. Picture taken January 23, 2014. To matc

NASIRIYAH, Iraq — At the beginning of February, a British archaeological excavation mission unveiled at the ruins of Ur a large trade center that is the oldest in the world, going back to the Old Babylonian period (2006-1595 BCE). Ur is a historical site in Sumer city mentioned in the Old Testament and located in Dhi Qar province, 375 kilometers (233 miles) south of Baghdad.

This discovery confirmed the exceptional importance of the ruins of Ur, which are still unexplored. Despite the poor security situation in Iraq, archaeological excavation has been accelerating in recent years, in search of ruins still buried in this area.

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