Ancient Castle Turned Into Military Barracks
Iraq Press (London)
Posted Tuesday May 1, 2001 - 10:32:42 AM EDT
Erbil - The Iraqi authorities have emptied the ancient citadel of Kerkuk of its inhabitants and turned into an army stronghold, residents arriving here said.
The more than 22-meter high citadel, believed to be one of the longest inhabited sites in the world, has become desolate with its Turkish-style houses bulldozed and army posts erected instead.
On the ruins now stand army barracks with soldiers pointing their machine-guns on residential districts surrounding the castle, the travellers told Iraq Press on condition that their names not be revealed.
The locals, mainly Turkmen, endear the castle which they also call Arrapha, the name for which it was known during the Assyrian empire which flourished in northern Iraq in the 7th century B.C.
The Iraqi government has been very active in inverting the ethnic balance in the city which for long was a symbol of peaceful coexistence between Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and Syriac Christians.
The first commercial oil field in Iraq was discovered in Kerkuk in 1927. Even today, the city of Kerkuk, capital of the governorate of Tamim, is at the centre of one of the richest oil producing areas in the Middle East.
Pipelines connect its oil fields to the Mediterranean ports of Tripoli in Lebanon, Panias in Syria and Yamurtalik in Turkey. Though aging, Kerkuk oil fields now produce an estimated one million barrels a day.
The presence of army barracks and bulldozing of homes will undoubtedly harm the archaeological significance of Kerkuk's citadel, also known as Qalat Jarmo which scientists regard as one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world.
The castle, covering an area of 250,000 square meters, became known for revealing traces of the world's first village farming communities, yielding evidence of domesticated wheat and barley and domesticated dogs and goats as early as 7000 B.C.
The extent of the damage cannot be estimated since the authorities prevent civilians from entering the castle, the largest in Iraq.
Excavations on the site have revealed a succession of 12 settlements from the early Neolithic up to the present day. Artefacts found included flint sickle blades, milling stones and pottery wares.
Middle East News Online
http://www.middleeastwire.com/iraq/stories/20010501_meno.shtml
