Cutting blades and stones, which were found at the Paleolithic caves of Shanidar (in Erbil Governorate) and Hazar Merd (in Sulaymaniyah Governorate), which are both located in Iraqi Kurdistan. These date back to c. 60,000-45,000 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Pottery jar made of unbaked clay. From Bard Hushtir village, Erbil Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan. Jarmo period, c. 5,000 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

A group of marble bowls and jars. From Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. These date back to the Samara period, c. 5000 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Painted pottery jar. From Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. This lovely piece dates back to the Halaf period, c. 4900-4300 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Pottery boat model. From Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. This specimen dates back to the Eridu period, c. 4900-4300 BCE.  Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Note the acquisition number “IM 17132”; this refers to the Iraqi Museum. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Door socket. The cuneiform inscription on it mentions the name of the Neo-Sumerian king Shu-Sin (r. 2037-2029 BCE). From southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. Ur III era. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

This small pottery jar dates back to the Ninevite V period, c. 2900-2800 BCE. From Northern Mesopotamia, Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Pig-shaped pottery. From Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. Early Dynastic Period, c. 2850-2350 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Foundation cone inscribed with the name of Gudea, ruler of Lagash (r. 2144-2124 BCE). It was found in a temple at Girsu, modern-day Tell Telloh, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

This pot and its lid were made of a black stone and were inscribed with cuneiform texts. From Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. It dates from c. 3000 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Mud-brick inscribed with the name of the Neo-Sumerian king Ur-nammu (r. 2047-2030 BCE). From southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. Ur III period. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Nota Bene: Take note of the Arabic word “نفر” on the right lower corner, written with a marker. It means “Nippur.” Nippur is one of the ancient Sumerian cities in southern Mesopotamia. The brick might well have been found there. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Pottery incense burner. From Tell Basmosian, modern-day Lake Dukan, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan. This artifact dates back to the Hurrian period, c. 1300-1000 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Sandstone statue of an unknown standing and naked man or deity. From modern-day southern Kurdistan, Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. Urartian period, c. 1500 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Clay hollow cylinder inscribed with cuneiform texts. From Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. Neo-Assyrian period, 911-612 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Nota Bene: “ND 7100” can be recognized on the cylinder’s intact left bottom. I researched further and found that this is “Easarhaddon cylinder fragments from fort Shalmaneser, Nimrud.” It was found in the city of Nimrud and was housed in the Iraqi Museum, Baghdad. Please seeEsarhaddon Cylinder Fragments from Fort Shalmaneser, Nimrud for more information. If you find any ancient artifact marked with the letters “ND” and a number, it means that these were excavated at the city of Nimrud (ancient Kalhu; Biblical Calah). Exclusive photo, never-before-published. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

An ivory plaque depicting a standing/striding bull, heading to the left. Part of the so-called “Nimrud Ivories,” which were excavated by Sir Max Mallowan between 1949-1963. From Nimrud, Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. This handsome specimen dates back to Neo-Assyrian period, 911-612 BCE. NB: This museum displays only three Nimrud ivory plaques, the other two are not shown here; one plaque depicts a standing creature, having a ram’s head and a human body and appears to wear the typical double crown of Egyptian pharaohs, while the other one is very worn and shows some body sitting among lotus flowers. All of these ivory plaques were originally housed in the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Exclusive photo, never-before-published. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

A fragment from a gypsum wall relief depicting the Assyrian king Sennacherib (r. 705-681 BCE). From northern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. This artifact dates from the Neo-Assyrian period. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

A fragment of a wall relief which was carved with cuneiform inscriptions. Neo-Assyrian period, 911-612 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Nota Bene: Mr. Qadri Ali, an archeologist, partially deciphered this text but he did not complete it. He said that the inscriptions mention the name of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (r. 883-859 BCE) and his military conflict with the Elamites. Site of excavation is unknown. Never-before-published, exclusive photo. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

From left to right: Life-size statue of an unknown leader or ruler from Hatra; a small statue depicting an unidentified deity but it might well represent the messenger god Hermes; small statue of an unidentified female deity; life-size statue of king Sanatruq I. From Hatra, modern-day Mosul Governorate, Iraq. These figures date back to the first century CE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Incantation pottery bowl with Aramaic text, thought to be used for religious ceremonies. From modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. Seleucid period, 312-139 BCE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

Bronze oil lamp (lantern). From Aquban district, Shaqlawa village, Erbil Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan. Early Christian period, c. 100-250 CE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

A glazed glass jar. From modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. Sassanian period, 224-651 CE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

A partially survived glazed glass plate. From modern-day Iraq; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. This lovely plate dates from the Abbasid period, 750-1258 CE. Erbil Civilization Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.

This is known as “Topzawa Rock or Topzawa Stele.” Topzawa is a village which lies within Erbil Governorate, northern Iraq. The stele was erected in Topzawa and looters transferred it to the Iraq-Iran border in order to sell it. The authorities captured it and it was transferred to the Erbil Citadel in Erbil and then to the museum. Unfortunately, this piece was greatly damaged. Each side was carved with cuneiform inscriptions. Few lines have survived, and but they could be recognized and deciphered. It appears that one side was Assyrian and the other one was Urartian. The rock narrates the military accomplishments of the Urartian king Rusas I and the clashes with the Assyrians. A very similar stele, Kel-a Shin stele, is housed in an Iranian museum; the stele mentions the acquisition of the city of Musasir by the Urartian king Ishpuini. Both steles were thought to be part of the kingdom of Musasir at Sidekan village, Erbil Governorate, Iraq. The village lies on the Iraqi side of the Iraq-Iran border. For more details, see Some Ancient Monuments on the Iraqi-Persian Boundary , an article by C. J. Edmonds written in 1966. Exclusive photo. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.