SoA Forum

History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Imperial Dave on Oct 20, 2022, 07:47 AM

Title: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: Imperial Dave on Oct 20, 2022, 07:47 AM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-63323825

and they are quite stunning too
Title: Re: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: DougM on Oct 20, 2022, 08:20 AM
Quote from: Holly on Oct 20, 2022, 07:47 AM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-63323825

and they are quite stunning too

Fantastic stuff. Loved the Assyrian archer image. Wonder what else will be there. Depressing to be reminded of the US army setting up camp in an archaeological site though.
Title: Re: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: Erpingham on Oct 20, 2022, 08:58 AM
Quote from: DougM on Oct 20, 2022, 08:20 AM
Quote from: Holly on Oct 20, 2022, 07:47 AM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-63323825

and they are quite stunning too

Loved the Assyrian archer image.

Interesting how he is holding his "ready use" arrows.
Title: Re: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: DBS on Oct 20, 2022, 08:59 AM
Quote from: DougM on Oct 20, 2022, 08:20 AM
Depressing to be reminded of the US army setting up camp in an archaeological site though.

To be fair, as I recall, senior Yanks reacted quite quickly to limit the damage once they realised what was happening - the culprits were Multinational Division (Centre), though I suspect it was primarily the contractors such as KBR who were most to blame as they had a shocking record.
Title: Re: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: DBS on Oct 20, 2022, 09:02 AM
Quote from: Erpingham on Oct 20, 2022, 08:58 AM
Interesting how he is holding his "ready use" arrows.
Agreed.  At first I thought in addition he had an empty quiver, but have now convinced myself there are fletched ends sticking out of it.
Title: Re: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: Chuck the Grey on Oct 21, 2022, 02:05 AM
Stunning carvings. Glad that restoration is progressing.
Title: Re: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: Erpingham on Oct 21, 2022, 09:01 AM
Quote from: Chuck the Grey on Oct 21, 2022, 02:05 AM
Stunning carvings. Glad that restoration is progressing.

The sad part is how little of them remain.  Following up on the internet, there are quite a few more images of the excavation and restoration and there isn't much carving left.
Title: Re: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: Duncan Head on Oct 26, 2022, 02:21 PM
Now see also https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/oct/26/archaeologists-unearth-2700-year-old-rock-carvings-in-iraq with a different photo.
Title: Re: Mashki Gate: Stunning ancient rock carvings found in Iraq
Post by: Erpingham on Oct 26, 2022, 02:42 PM
There's some other different ones in the gallery of this article

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2022/10/18/iraqi-archaeologists-discover-carved-slabs-from-assyrian-empire/

There are figures that look like spearmen, with wicker shields and crested helmets.

The picture in the Guardian referenced by Duncan seems to show a stylised mountain, so perhaps a campaign against hill tribes was the subject?