Cards to save Iraq's ancient sites

[Faris]

http://www.gulfnews.com/world/General/10164225.html

American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan may soon be playing cards with the ace of artefacts or the king of archaeological digs. Nearly 50,000 decks of cards meant to help troops avoid unnecessary damage to ancient sites and curb the illegal trade of stolen artefacts will be shipped to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as training sites in the United States.

The cards were developed by Colorado State University (CSU) and the Defence Department. Each card displays an artefact or site and gives a tip on how to avoid damaging historic treasures.

Each suit has a theme: diamonds for artefacts and treasures, spades for historic sites and archaeological digs, hearts for "winning hearts and minds" and clubs for heritage preservation. CSU says none of the decks will be sold commercially.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


While US soldiers are fighting a war in a region known as the cradle of civilisation, Colorado State University experts are helping them remember to protect and preserve archaeological treasures, antiquities and historic sites.

Scientists with the CSU Centre for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) say the US military inadvertently damaged portions of the historic city of Babylon while invading Iraq in 2003.

Value recognition tool

Now, those researchers are shipping 50,000 decks of playing cards to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, cards that remind warriors to stay safe above all, but consider "cultural heritage preservation". The cards are similar to the ones created by the military to help soldiers recognise "high value" enemies in Saddam Hussain's regime.

CEMML senior research scientist James Zeidler said in a statement: "These cards are part of a larger cultural awareness training package that will help our armed forces avoid inadvertent damage to sensitive archaeological sites and help curb illegal looting and antiquities trafficking in the war zone."

Each card in the deck displays an artefact or site and gives a tip on how to avoid causing damage to historic and archaeological sites. The five of clubs, for example, says "Drive around, not over, archaeological sites."

Other cards warn against digging if ancient artefacts or architectural remains are encountered. A message at the top of all cards states "ROE first!" notifying soldiers that the military's Rules of Engagement - strict operational rules for engaging the enemy and protecting one's safety and health - precede all other considerations.

CEMML graphic artist Tracy Wager worked with Zeidler to create all of the graphics for the cards. In addition to displaying images and messages on each playing card, Wager made each card a piece to a puzzle as a way to get the soldiers to look at the messages. In the background of each card is a piece of a graphic which when placed in the correct formation completes the image. Each suit has its own image.

For example, the suit of hearts creates the image of an historic illustration of the Northwest Palace Throne Room at the ancient site of Nimrud, Iraq.

Fort Carson has received 3,500 decks of the cards, and distributed a handful of them to environmental officers assigned to units on post.

"They just thought these were great," said Pam Cowen, cultural resources manager for Fort Carson. "They opened them up, they were playing with them."

At the start of the Iraq war, locals looted museums and archaeological sites dating back to as early as 9,000 BC.

Under Saddam Hussain's regime, looting or trafficking in antiquities was punishable by death.

"Once his regime fell, organised gangs of looters went in and took full advantage of the situation," said Cowen.

"They knew exactly what they were doing. Several famous archaeological sites suffered extensive damage. ... The other famous case was the museum in Baghdad, extensively looted by people who really knew what they were going after."

The US military too received a public relations black eye after a British newspaper reported that military operations caused "widespread damage and severe contamination to the remains of the ancient city of Babylon."

Newspaper report

The report said military vehicles crushed archaeological sites and sand and earth was removed to fill sandbags.

The Pentagon responded by developing programmes to create more cultural awareness among troops. Along with the cards, a website and training scenarios with mock archaeological sites and cemeteries have been developed.

Each card has a different image and a caption with a message. There are very attractive pictures of artefacts with admonitions to the troops to help curb looting, to help curb the trafficking in antiquities and help preserve the integrity of the archaeological sites.

- With additional inputs from Colorado State University.

I dont know why, but this article made me feel disturbed....

[Isiolia]

Why disturbed? It's not he first time they've used pictures on cards to help troops be able to identify things. Only this time, they're not the top people they want dead...

[Alleya]

Sounds like a good thing to me.