(via Archaeology Online News)
The war with Iraq has led scientists to place archaeology projects on hold in areas such as Jordan, Syria and Yemen until the ripple effects of the U.S.-led action subside. And while tensions kicked up by the war have led to uncertainty for researchers traveling to that area, a resolution to the situation in Iraq could ultimately provide archaeologists and anthropologists unlimited access to the country for the first time in 12 years.
McGuire Gibson, a professor of Mesopotamian archaeology at the University of Chicago, says that for now, American researchers have stopped working on projects in several countries in the Middle East.
"No one is working in Syria anymore and no one is working in Jordan," said Gibson, who studied in Iraq from 1968 until 1990. "Intellectual life has come to a halt in general until this is over." Representatives of Earthwatch, one of the nation's largest nonprofit sponsors of research abroad, said they have been forced to abandoned projects in the Middle East due to instability.
"In the past we have had projects in Tunisia, Oman, Turkey and Israel," said Blue Magruder, director of public affairs for Earthwatch. "These are all countries where we have done projects before and we are no longer doing them."
In the long run, the promise of political stability in Iraq could open a host of academic opportunities for a new generation of students.
Well, I guess that's bad news and good news.
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