The Galloping Beaver has a story about the new deck of playing cards issued to US military in Iraq. 50 thousand of them.
They do not depict these 2003 most wanted. This time the cards show Iraq historical sites being destroyed by the invading and occupying military.
Each card in the deck is illustrated with an ancient artefact or site, with tips on how to preserve archaeological remains and prevent looting.
The seven of clubs, for example, is illustrated with a photograph of the great Ctesiphon arch in Iraq, with the words: “This site has survived for seventeen centuries. Will it survive you?†The seven of spades declares: “Taking pictures is good. Removing artefacts for souvenirs is not.†The jack of diamonds is even more blunt. Alongside a picture of the Statue of Liberty, it asks: “How would you feel if someone stole her torch?†The effort to induce greater cultural awareness among US troops comes amid dire warnings from international archaeologists that Iraq’s ancient heritage is in greater peril than ever.
The looting of the Iraqi National Museum in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion caused widespread outrage, but with the security situation deteriorating, the robbery of ancient sites has accelerated to feed a booming illegal trade in stolen artefacts.
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Text: Respect ruins whenever possible. They protect you and your cultural heritage. (Ancient minaret at Samarra, Iraq.)” – Archaeology Awareness playing card. U.S. Department of Defense. 2007. ]
