Erbil, exhibition on Italian archaeological missions

29 Apr - An exhibition dedicated to Italian archaeological missions in Iraqi Kurdistan organized by the Italian Consulate was inaugurated this morning in Erbil, at Gallery Media Hall, a few steps from the Citadel. The ribbon was cut by Consul Michele Camerota together with the Directors of the missions and Directorates of Antiquities of Kurdistan, and with the Minister of Tourism and Municipalities Sasan Awmi, who supported the event together with the Governor of Erbil Omed Khoshnaw.

For Consul Camerota "the Italian archaeological missions represent the best example of cultural and scientific collaboration with the Kurdish Region and with the whole of Iraq, of which Italy holds the record. Our contribution to the enhancement and conservation of the historical and archaeological heritage is constantly growing: to date, there are 11 Italian missions in Kurdistan alone. We therefore wanted to celebrate this commitment by offering a photographic exhibition, a catalogue, a seminar and a dedicated website (www.archeokri.it). We have involved the counterparts of the Directorates of Antiquities, with the aim of further promoting the awareness of the population and local institutions in the promotion of this priceless universal heritage".

The exhibition, which will be open to the public from 2 to 21 May and subsequently exhibited in other locations in the Region, consists of 31 photographic panels and each image tells a unique story of this fascinating part of the world, often remembered as the "cradle of civilisation" . The Consulate has also created a catalogue, in three languages (Italian, English and Kurdish), edited by Dr. Serenella Mancini, which collects all the images and descriptions of the individual projects. The work adds to an in-depth publication promoted last year by the Italian Embassy in Baghdad in collaboration with the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia Institute.

"The Sistema Italia - continues Consul Camerota -, with a long tradition in the field of scientific research, under the impulse of the Farnesina and the Directorate General for Public Diplomacy, participates in the success of Italian archeology in the world with its various components. For example, thanks also to funding from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, we recall the recent inauguration, here in Kurdistan, of the Faida and Khinis Archaeological Park which, in the footsteps of King Sennacherib, has brought to light some Assyrian rock reliefs of immense value, rediscovered by the team from the University of Udine".

In the last two decades, Iraqi Kurdistan has fully entered itself as a new frontier of scholarly research. This initiative intends to demonstrate our appreciation for the activities in the field of Italian archaeologists. They contribute to preserving and enhancing the legacies of the different eras and civilizations that have characterized the Region and bring prestige to Italy, strengthening the solid bonds of friendship with Iraqi Kurdistan and with the population involved in various ways, also to affirm the value of culture as a driver of tourist attraction.