The British Museum is establishing a pilot programme to train local museum curators, conservation specialists and archaeologists in Iraq skills in heritage protection.

The scheme, which is being funded by a £3m (US$4.6m, €4.2m) grant from the UK government, will be used to help tackle issues facing the ISIS-burdened regions of the war-torn, echoing calls recently made by former UNESCO director Francesco Bandarin at CyArk’s annual summit for governments to help prevent heritage desolation.

The British Museum has had an ongoing relationship with heritage professionals in Iraq since the 2003 conflict, when ancient sites such as Babylon were damaged by military occupation and other museums in the country were shelled and looted.

A statement from the British Museum said that while direct intervention at ISIS-controlled sites was currently impossible for obvious safety reasons, the training will be taken in preparation for when a safe return is possible.

“The scheme cannot stop further acts of cultural destruction,” said the statement. “But it can equip colleagues with the skills required to conserve and restore where possible and is an attempt to enable colleagues to preserve sites and objects of global significance.”

As part of the scheme, two archeologists will be recruited to lead six-month training programmes. Trainees will spend three months at the British Museum and three months in Iraq, being taught the key principles of rescue archaeology and site management.

“Civilisations tell their stories through their art, which is why people who are hellbent on destruction, target it. Removing places and things that have helped to give people a shared sense of history and identity helps to undermine social cohesion and makes reconciliation less likely,” said culture secretary, John Whittingdale.

“Many heritage sites are used for military purposes to shield and conceal soldiers and weapons, and valuable objects are trafficked to finance warmongering. It must be tackled head on.”

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