UN seeks protection for ancient Nimrud

 
Islamic State extremists have destroyed the ancient site of Nimrud almost beyond recognition, and left its ruins vulnerable to thieves and further damage, according to the United Nations.

Wednesday marked the first visit to a cultural heritage site seized back from the Islamic State group for UNESCO, the world body's cultural organisation, and perhaps a sign of what lies ahead in Iraq and Syria.
IS seized Nimrud in 2014 and the group made a point of filming the destruction of its Northwest Palace.
As the assault on Mosul drew closer, the group also bulldozed the ziggurat, a 140-foot (42.6 metre) tall structure that dominated the site.
"The most important thing right now is to ensure some basic protection, in particular of this palace, because of all the pieces that remain. They are completely unprotected," UNESCO representative to Iraq Louise Haxthausen said.
Iraqi archaeologist Layla Salih estimated that around 60 per cent of the site was a total loss.
Despite the damage, she was encouraged by the giant piles of rubble which could safely contain some of the antiquities beneath the dirt and bricks - as opposed to looted.
Nimrud was captured from IS in early November, but Islamic State fighters this week recaptured the Syrian historical site of Palmyra.
Nimrud dates to the 13th century BC and was one of the capitals of the Assyrian empire of that era.