Chasing Down History and the 'Thieves of Baghdad' [8min]

After the American invasion of 2003, looters took advantage of the Iraqi government's collapse to steal priceless antiquities from the Iraq Museum. Artifacts representing some of mankind's earliest attempts at building a civilization disapeared into the shadowy world of the international black market for art. That's where Matthew Bogdanos comes in. He is a Marine reservist, an assistant district attorney in Manhattan and a student of the classics. Called to active duty for the conflict in Iraq, he quickly realized that he had a role to play in saving a significant chunk of Iraq's cultural heritage. Now he's written a book -- Thieves of Baghdad -- about his adventures recovering stolen art in the chaotic world of post-war Baghdad. Although many historical artifacts have vanished, quite a few have not.

Here are some of the pieces that Bogdanos and his team recovered, as well as some that are still missing:

Recovered Antiquities

The Gold of Nimrud: A spectacular collection of more than 1,000 pieces of gold jewelry and precious stones from the eighth and ninth centuries B.C. Some of the finest examples of gold jewelry ever found in the Near East, their discovery by archaeologists in 1988 is on par with the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen. The Nimrud Treasure is considered so priceless that an exhibition of them planned in Germany several years ago had to be cancelled because no insurance company was willing to insure it. An internationally touring exhibit of the art, including five American cities, is scheduled for 2006.

The Sacred Vase of Warka: The world's oldest known carved-stone ritual vessel, dating from circa 3200 B.C., and the pride of the Iraq Museum. It was returned to the museum in the trunk of a car, along with 95 other artifacts.

The Mask of Warka: Generally believed to be the world's oldest known naturalistic sculpture of a human face, from circa 3100 B.C. Bogdanos and his team conducted a raid on a farmhouse near Baghdad and found the Mask of Warka buried in the backyard.

Golden Harp of Ur: In the wake of looting, the solid gold bull's head that adorned the harp was believed missing and the harp destroyed. These treasures date from circa 2600-2500 B.C.

The Bassetki Statue: Cast in pure copper, it is one of the earliest known examples of the lost-wax technique of casting. Dates from circa 2250 B.C. Recovered during a raid, submerged in a cesspool behind a smuggler's warehouse.

Clay Pot from Tell Hassuna: Fashioned in the sixth millennium B.C., this beautiful pot predates the wheel by at least 1,500 years. It was returned to the museum in a garbage bag.

4,000-Year-Old Akkadian Piece: The amnesty program established by Bogdanos to encourage return of the stolen pieces was so well publicized that, while home on leave in Manhattan in late summer 2003, Bogdanos was contacted by an individual who had learned of the investigation on the news and had a"package" for him. They met in a crowded coffee shop in Midtown Manhattan, where Bogdanos was handed a small brown-paper envelope with a 4,000-year-old Akkadian piece, now back in the Iraq Museum.

Antiquities Still Missing

Lioness Attacking a Nubian: An extraordinary eighth-century B.C. ivory plaque inlaid with lapis and carnelian and overlaid with gold. Two such ivory plaques are known to exist, with the other being in the British Museum.

Ninhursag Bulls: One of the two twin bulls from the face of the temple built by the King of Ur, circa 2475, is still missing. Among the oldest known bulls in relief, they were ripped from the walls of the museum. The other was recovered.