Climate change threatens ancient monuments in Iraq, experts warn

BAGHDAD, Nov. 5 - Iraqi officials are warning of erosion and climate change threatening thousands of years-old cities in northern Iraq, the cradle of one of the world's oldest civilizations. Harsh, dry weather is increasing soil salinity, destroying historic monuments in the ruins of cities such as Ur, the birthplace of the biblical patriarch Abraham, and Babylon, once the magnificent metropolis of several ancient empires, Reuters reported.

In the city of Ur, sand dunes are accelerating erosion of the northern part of the majestic stepped ziggurat temple, which was dedicated to the moon god Nanna more than 4,000 years ago. "The combination of wind and sand dunes is causing erosion of the northern part of the structure," said Abdullah Nasrallah, an archaeologist with the antiquities department in Iraq's Dhi Qar province, where Ur is located.

The shrine, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is among the best-preserved examples of ancient Mesopotamian architecture. It offers a glimpse into the religious practices and sacred rituals of the Sumerian empire, where one of the world’s oldest civilizations flourished.

“While the third layer of the ziggurat had already suffered damage due to weather and climate change, erosion has now begun to affect the second layer,” Nasrallah said.

Nearby, salt deposits are damaging the mud bricks of the royal necropolis of Ur, discovered by British archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley in the 1920s. Today, the monument is in danger of collapsing. “These salt deposits have formed as a result of global warming and climate change, which have damaged important parts of the necropolis. Eventually, the deposits will cause the mud bricks from which the necropolis is built to collapse completely,” said Kazem Hassoun, inspector of the antiquities department in Dhikar province.

Iraq is grappling with rising temperatures and severe drought, which are increasing the salinity of the soil in the south of the country. It is in the area where the mighty Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet as they flow into the Persian Gulf.

Upstream of the Euphrates, the archaeological sites of ancient Babylon are also under threat. They are in urgent need of attention and restoration, but a lack of funding remains a major obstacle, said Montaser Hasnawi, director of the Iraqi Ministry of Culture.

The country has already experienced decades of war that have severely damaged its historical sites, from the war with Iran in the 1980s to the Gulf War in the early 1990s to the US-led invasion in 2003, subsequent insurgent violence and the rise and fall of the Islamic State terrorist organization.

But the latest challenge is climate change, which is altering the country’s entire ecosystem. It threatens not only its agricultural future but also its historical heritage.

High salinity in Babylon is threatening the clay materials of ancient structures, on the surfaces of which are still visible the intricate Sumerian reliefs. These materials came directly from the soil, which had a lower salt content at the time. This made them more resistant to external influences, but incorrect restoration practices from past decades have made them more vulnerable, Hasnáví explained.

Due to increasing salinity, it is necessary to correct previous deficiencies and restore monuments as soon as possible. "The problem of salinity is increasing both on the surface and in groundwater. This will lead to the destruction of many ancient cities hidden underground," Hasnáví added.

Reuters