The ancient archaeological sites in Iraq are facing a new threat from sandstorms caused by climate change. In addition to the existing problem of antiquities being looted, these treasures from the Babylonian civilization are now slowly disappearing under wind-blown sand.
One of these endangered historical sites is the Sumerian ruins of Umm al-Aqarib, “the Mother of Scorpions”, in the southern desert province of Dhi Qar. The priceless artifacts and structures at the site date back to around 2350 BC.
With desertification growing, Aqeel al-Mansrawi, an archeologist, says “it is estimated that sand could have covered 80 to 90 percent of the archaeological sites in the next ten years”.
Iraq is one of the countries most impacted by climate change, and is also facing droughts, reduced water flow, and outdated farming practices, which are exacerbating the problem.
Iraqi authorities say they are working to contain the sand dunes and plan to plant a “green belt” of trees at a cost of $3.8 million, but archaeologists doubt this will work, as a lot of water is required to keep the vegetation alive.
