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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 August 2014
The latter half of 1962 has witnessed a remarkably varied number of events including not only two rewarding excavations by the Directorate General of Antiquities and the continuation of its restoration programme at various ancient sites, but also the official opening of the new Iraq Museum, the return of two distinguished foreign expeditions to the field and a festival. If, then, we select the opening of the new Museum to begin this article, it is in the belief that the completion of that admirable enterprise marks a great and important step not simply towards the general advancement of Mesopotamian studies in Iraq and abroad, but equally towards the fuller realization by the Iraqi people of the outstanding material and intellectual achievements of their ancient forbears. To those, therefore, who have worked for the creation of the new building, and to those who have followed its progress it must be a source of great satisfaction that within the course of the next two years we may hope to see a great national collection installed in its new home.
1 I should like here to express my very grateful thanks to the Director General of Antiquities, Sayid Taha Baqir and to the Inspector General of Excavations, Sayid Fuad Safar for their kindness in allowing me to publish this account of the Directorate's work during June-December, 1962, and for generously providing me with the accompanying photographs.
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7 Haines, R. C.: “A Report of the Excavations at Nippur during 1960–61”, Sumer XVII (1961), pp. 67–70, photos. 1–12Google Scholar; and also Hansen, D. P. & Dales, G. F.: Archaeology 15 (1962), No. 2, pp. 75–84, figs. 1–14Google Scholar.
