Her team -- 18 German archaeologists, geologists, geophysical experts and students and seven Iraqi archaeologists -- initially stayed, reasoning travelling the 750 kilometres (460 miles) overland to Turkey was more dangerous. Now, said Otto, archaeologists once again face being shut out. "We are always training a lot of Iraqi archaeologists and colleagues," said Otto, of the German institute. Foreign digs must work with Iraqi archaeologists, bringing their international expertise. In 2024, she had to leave Iraq, while in 2011, she left Syria.

Source: The Standard March 31, 2026 10:02 UTC