Iraqi Treasures Recovered

By Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: October 22, 2003
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
This is Phoebe Zimmermann.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Steve Ember with EXPLORATIONS, from VOA Special English. Today we tell about efforts to recover ancient works¹ of art stolen from Iraq.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Thousands of archeological treasures disappeared from the National Museum of Antiquities² in Baghdad, Iraq last April. At that time, a coalition³ led by the United States 1)ousted the government of Saddam Hussein. Robbers⁵ entered the museum. They stole and damaged many priceless objects.
At first, experts estimated⁶ that one-hundred-seventy-thousand objects were missing⁷. But museum workers had hidden many objects for their protection before the war began in March. Some Iraqi citizens have been holding other artifacts for safe keeping. These people have expressed concern that museum workers are connected with Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath political party. They say they fear the artifacts might not be put back in the museum again. Negotations for returning such objects are continuing.
VOICE TWO:
Officials now say the museum lost between ten-thousand and fifteen-thousand artifacts after the war. Baghdad citizens and others returned many of these ancient objects. An American group also has organized the return of almost three-thousand-five-hundred artifacts. Group members worked with local citizens and international officials to restore⁸ valuable pieces to 2)the National Museum of Antiquities.
For example, the Americans helped recover a 3)sculpture of a woman's head. Some experts said it is one of the five most important pieces taken from the museum.
The sculpture is called the Warka Mask, or Lady of Warka. It is about five-thousand years old. It was carved in the ancient city of Warka during the rule of the 4)Sumerians. Iraqi police and American soldiers found it buried among fruit trees on a farm near Baghdad.
VOICE ONE:
Jabir Ibrahim directs Iraq's department of ancient objects. He said his office learned⁹ in August about a group trying to sell the Warka Mask. But the group's negotiations¹⁰ with possible buyers apparently¹¹ failed. After that, the group hid the mask. Information provided¹² to the museum identified the person who apparently stole the mask. A week of negotiations with this person led to the farm. Soldiers and police dug out the mask from fifteen centimeters of earth. It was unharmed.
VOICE TWO:
Jabir Ibrahim is among Iraqi experts who have said United States forces failed to protect the museum after occupying Baghdad. A number of international art experts and archeologists agree. But American officials say Iraqi Army soldiers were firing from the museum at American troops as they arrived. The officials say the gunfire made it impossible for the American troops to enter the museum. They say the stealing took place before the American military could help stop it.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
United States Marine¹³ Colonel¹⁴ Matthew Bogdanos (boag-DON-ose) began the American investigation¹⁵ of the missing artifacts in April. Colonel Bogdanos is a reserve officer who has completed graduate work in classical studies. In civilian¹⁶ life, he works as a government lawyer in New York City.
At a recent media conference in Washington, D-C, Colonel Bogdanos described the efforts of his group. He reported how the thirteen members found missing artifacts in Baghdad and six other nations.
VOICE TWO:
Colonel Bogdanos said the goal was not to punish people who stole the objects. Instead, he said his group wants mainly to recover the lost treasures. So the investigators¹⁷ operated on a policy of “no questions asked.” This meant people who returned stolen objects would not be arrested.
Colonel Bogdanos praised religious and community leaders in Baghdad for spreading this message. A recent count showed that one-thousand-seven-hundred objects have been returned under the “no questions asked” policy. The colonel said many citizens in Baghdad also provided valuable information leading to missing objects.
VOICE ONE:
The Americans said their hardest job was learning¹⁸ exactly what was missing. Museum employees had never recorded the presence¹⁹ of many artifacts in the huge collection. Some Iraqi experts say the employees purposely failed to do this. The experts said the employees meant to prevent Saddam's family and his Ba'ath party members from seizing valuable objects. Now Iraqi, American, British and Italian archeologists are trying to complete a list of which objects are in the museum and which are still missing.
VOICE TWO:
Toward that goal, investigators have been sending photographs of the missing objects around the world. However, this effort has had many problems. Robbers had stolen or destroyed many of the photographs. Photos of other objects were of poor quality. Also, the museum had never photographed some of its artworks.
Still, many art communities and law-enforcement agencies²⁰ have received photographs. If an artifact had no picture, investigators sent photos of similar artworks. Colonel Bogdanos said the goal was to make the objects as recognizable as possible.
The photographs have helped make searches successful at airports, security²¹ points and international borders. By last month, more than seven-hundred-fifty artifacts had been recovered this way.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Some artifacts from the National Museum of Antiquities have been missing far longer than a few months. Museum officials hid these objects more than twelve years ago, before the Persian Gulf²² War. For example, in nineteen-ninety, officials took a number of important objects to the Central Bank of Iraq in Baghdad. They included the golden head of a male cow.
They also included objects known as the Treasure of Nimrud. During the nineteen-eighties, archeologists had found these artifacts near the northern Iraqi city of 5)Mosul. They were found in royal burial places in what had been the ancient Assyrian capital of Nimrud. Boxes containing these artifacts had been placed in a lower-level area of the bank. However, the area became flooded.
VOICE TWO:
This past summer, bank and museum officials watched as a National Geographic²³ Society crew and American soldiers pumped out the water. When they opened the boxes, they found that the golden cow's head had been damaged. Then they opened boxes containing the Treasure of Nimrud. Those present held their breath as the treasures were lifted out. The gold, jewels and other artifacts were unharmed.
VOICE ONE:
Workers at the museum also had hidden eight-thousand artifacts in a secret place before the most recent war. They had sworn on the Koran not to tell where that place was. Colonel Bogdanos and his group spent weeks talking to the museum workers in an effort to build trust. The workers finally shared their secret. The objects were discovered in good condition. The museum will show them again when security permits.
(MUSIC)
VOICE TWO:
The Americans have carefully searched the huge National Museum of Antiquities. They found evidence of an Iraqi Army firing position in a 6)storage room. They found many suspicious²⁴ objects, including weapon parts and an unexploded bomb. They also found rocket weapons on the roofs of the museum library and the children's museum. The searchers discovered fifteen sets of Iraqi Army clothing in another museum building.
In a lower-level storage room, they discovered that almost three-thousand valuable small objects had been stolen. These artifacts were not yet ready to be shown to the public. Colonel Bogdanos believes the objects could not have been removed without a museum worker knowing they were there. He says a museum worker may have organized the theft or given information to other people. The colonel says some museum employees have left their jobs and cannot be found. Iraqi officials, however, say this theft was possible without help from museum workers.
VOICE ONE:
Colonel Bogdanos now has returned to the United States. But he says only the first work of the investigation is complete. In Iraq, the search continues. Around the world, archeologists, art experts and law officers are helping²⁵ to restore the museum's collections. Many people wait for the day when the National Museum of Antiquities in Baghdad can again show its treasures from the past.
(THEME)
VOICE TWO:
This Special English program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced by Mario Ritter. I'm Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And I'm Phoebe Zimmermann. Join us again next week for Explorations on the Voice of America.

注释：
1) oust⁴ [ aust ] vt.剥夺, 取代, 驱逐
2) the National Museum of Antiquities 自然历史博物馆
3) sculpture [ 5skQlptFE ] n.雕刻, 雕刻品
4) Sumerian [ su:5miEriEn] n.闪族人（语）
5) Mosul [mEJ`sU:l] 摩苏尔（伊拉克北部城市）
6) storage room  n.贮藏库, 存储室

1 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

2 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

5 robbers   

n.抢劫者，强盗，盗贼( robber的名词复数 )；盗匪

参考例句：

• The robbers fled empty-handed. 抢劫犯一无所获地逃走了。
• The policeman discharged his gun at the fleeing robbers. 警察向逃跑的强盗开了枪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 estimated   

adj．根据估计的

参考例句：

• She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres. 她估计湖面大约有500米宽。
• The man estimated for the repair of the car. 那人估算了修理汽车的费用。

7 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

8 restore   

vt.把…恢复原状；归还，交还

参考例句：

• A good rest will restore you to health.好好休息一下可使你恢复健康。
• His recent success has helped to restore his faith in his own ability.他最近取得的成功使他恢复了对自己能力的信任。

9 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

12 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

13 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

14 colonel   

n.(英国陆军、美国陆空军及海军陆战队)上校

参考例句：

• It's a pity we didn't mend our fences with the colonel.可惜我们还没有和上校先生调整好关系。
• An army major ranks between a captain and a colonel.陆军少校的军阶在上尉与中校之间。

15 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

16 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

17 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

19 presence   

n.出席；到场；存在

参考例句：

• Her presence lent an air of respectability to the occasion.她的到场使那种场合增添了崇高的气氛。
• His presence is indicative of his willingness to help.他的出席表示他愿意帮忙。

20 agencies   

n.代理( agency的名词复数 )；服务机构；（政府的）专门机构；代理（或经销）业务（或关系）

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations. 联合国有许多专门机构。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The project is funded by the World Bank and other multilateral agencies. 这项计划由世界银行和其他多国机构资助。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

22 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

23 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

24 suspicious   

adj.可疑的，容易引起怀疑的，猜疑的，疑心的

参考例句：

• A man was hanging about the house in a suspicious manner.一个男人在房子周围可疑地荡来荡去。
• He's so suspicious he would distrust his own mother.他这个人疑心太重，连自己的母亲也不相信。

25 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。