Launch of Catastrophe! The Looting and Destruction of Iraq's Past
Catastrophe! The Looting and Destruction of Iraq's Past was launched on 15 June 2009 at the Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House. The exhibition charts the looting of the Iraq National Museum in Baghdad and the continuing looting of archaeological sites in the country.
The event opening included remarks from Prof Alec Boksenberg, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, and Major Hugo Clarke, Scots Guards.
The UK National Commission for UNESCO sponsored exhibition is free and open to the public from 15 to 26 June 2009, (including the weekend), 10am to 5pm daily, Society of Antiquaries (Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J).
The infamous looting of the National Museum in Baghdad was a cultural catastrophe which caught the world’s attention in the early days of the Iraq war.
But the looting of archaeological sites continues. That is why the travelling exhibition, Catastrophe! The Looting and Destruction of Iraq’s Past, came to Britain as part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the importance of protecting cultural property during armed conflict.
Written: 14/06/2009 , last modified: 14/06/2009
Copies of 'The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Iraq' on sale at the launch 
Prof Alec Boksenberg 