MOC detail the map of the spread foreign excavation missions 

Baghdad-INA 

The General Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities separated the map of the spread of foreign excavation missions, while confirming the implementation of a plan to protect archaeological sites to prevent abuses and provide an appropriate atmosphere for excavations . 

The Director-General of the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage, Laith Majid, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "there are approximately 20,000 archaeological sites in Iraq, and we believe that the numbers will increase if the survey of archaeological sites is completed.".

He added, "There is a plan in place to protect archaeological sites threatened by population expansion, to stop the encroachment on archaeological sites, and we have fenced the sites and the fencing operations are continuing.".

He pointed out that "we have carried out fencing work for archaeological sites starting from Baghdad and passing through to the southern governorates to prevent abuse and to allow regular excavations by the General Authority of Antiquities or international missions.

On the current excavation sites and the map of the spread of foreign missions, Majid explained, "There are foreign excavation missions in Diwaniyah, as an excavation mission from Germany is working in the ancient city of Warka, and there is a joint survey team from France and Italy working in the city of Arido in Dhi Qar Governorate, and there are works in Mosul by a mission German and Italian excavations.

He pointed out that "there is a tendency to send an excavation mission to the Ashur region in the north of the country, as there is a grant from the German University of Munich, and there is also a British mission in the south, and there is also work in Babylon with a large project for the maintenance of antiquities."