Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Treasures of Iraq

Aired July 03, 2003 - 09:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It was trashed by looters when Baghdad fell in April, but today, the Iraqi National Museum reopened. U.S. authorities say most of the treasures that were taken have now been recovered.
Jane Arraf is in Baghdad now for the grand opening.

Hello, Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.

Well, it opened to the sound of an explosion and it closed shortly after, just a couple of hours after, but for that brief point in time, once again in the spotlight were these treasures that had been underground for 3,000 years and exhibited only once before. These are the treasures from the royal tombs in Nimrood (ph), which was one of the ancient Syrian capitals in northern Iraq. They were found almost by accident by an Iraqi archaeologist in the late '80s, who noticed the stones were uneven, and they opened them up the burial grounds of three queens with all of their jewelry.

This was the jewelry on display. Amazing things. Solid gold anklets that wade pound each. They were bowls that used in ceremonies for the queens, and possibly the kings. There were beakers and earrings so intricate it has revised the archaeologists' opinion was of what society they're there was 3,000 years ago. They had no idea they could do something like this.

Now this was meant to prove that the collection was intact. It had essentially disappeared from public view, put in bank vaults for safekeeping, and it wasn't known it was still intact until investigators and museum officials opened those bank vaults about a month ago. It was to prove that the collection was still there. The museum had not been entirely looted, and it did close shortly after. It is too insecure in the city to keep it open -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Jane, any word of when the museum will fully open to the public once again?

ARRAF: Well, they are now saying a few months away, as late as December, but again, it depends entirely on the security here. As it opened, there was what appeared to be a grenade attack about a kilometer away. It certainly adds to that climate of uncertainty. And as much as they would love to open it up again to the Iraqi public, they just don't have the means to secure those absolutely priceless objects -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Jane Arraf, live in Baghdad this morning. Thanks, Jane.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired July 3, 2003 - 09:14   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It was trashed by looters when Baghdad fell in April, but today, the Iraqi National Museum reopened. U.S. authorities say most of the treasures that were taken have now been recovered.
Jane Arraf is in Baghdad now for the grand opening.

Hello, Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.

Well, it opened to the sound of an explosion and it closed shortly after, just a couple of hours after, but for that brief point in time, once again in the spotlight were these treasures that had been underground for 3,000 years and exhibited only once before. These are the treasures from the royal tombs in Nimrood (ph), which was one of the ancient Syrian capitals in northern Iraq. They were found almost by accident by an Iraqi archaeologist in the late '80s, who noticed the stones were uneven, and they opened them up the burial grounds of three queens with all of their jewelry.

This was the jewelry on display. Amazing things. Solid gold anklets that wade pound each. They were bowls that used in ceremonies for the queens, and possibly the kings. There were beakers and earrings so intricate it has revised the archaeologists' opinion was of what society they're there was 3,000 years ago. They had no idea they could do something like this.

Now this was meant to prove that the collection was intact. It had essentially disappeared from public view, put in bank vaults for safekeeping, and it wasn't known it was still intact until investigators and museum officials opened those bank vaults about a month ago. It was to prove that the collection was still there. The museum had not been entirely looted, and it did close shortly after. It is too insecure in the city to keep it open -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Jane, any word of when the museum will fully open to the public once again?

ARRAF: Well, they are now saying a few months away, as late as December, but again, it depends entirely on the security here. As it opened, there was what appeared to be a grenade attack about a kilometer away. It certainly adds to that climate of uncertainty. And as much as they would love to open it up again to the Iraqi public, they just don't have the means to secure those absolutely priceless objects -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Jane Arraf, live in Baghdad this morning. Thanks, Jane.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com