Khartoum accuses RSF of looting and destroying Sudan's heritage: What to know The Sudanese government accused the Rapid Support Forces of looting and destroying cultural heritage sites, including the Sudan National Museum, during their occupation of Khartoum, calling the actions war crimes and pledging to work with UNESCO and Interpol to recover stolen artifacts. Sudan
Egypt celebrates first royal tomb discovery since 1922: What we know The 3,500-year-old tomb belongs to King Thutmose II, who ruled Egypt during its 18th dynasty. Egypt
In search for Cleopatra's tomb, Egypt claims new discoveries A team led by Kathleen Martinez, who has worked for two decades in hopes of finding Cleopatra’s tomb, has unearthed new discoveries in an ancient city near Alexandria. Egypt
Egypt: Archaeologists unearth 2,100-year-old temple in ancient village The Egyptian government said the recent findings could lead to the discovery of a massive temple as significant as the Luxor Temple. Egypt
New York court orders Gilgamesh tablet returned to Iraq The US Department of Justice said a past seller of the tablet, infamously purchased by the US company Hobby Lobby, misrepresented how it had been acquired. Iraq
Virtual tours bring Egypt's museums, archaeological sites online Cairo had hoped that 2020 would be a golden year for Egyptian tourism, but the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the industry. Egypt
Tourists stay away as Egypt reopens oldest pyramid Egypt has finally reopened its oldest pyramid after 14 years of restoration work, but the timing could have been better. Egypt
3,000-year-old talking mummy creates dispute in Egypt Egyptians are arguing among themselves on a new study that has recreated the voice of a 3,000-year-old mummified Egyptian priest. Egypt
Popularity of Turkey's ancient temple worries archaeologists Gobekli Tepe, the oldest known place of worship in the world, has been a site of controversy as the Turkish government monetizes the mysterious archaeological treasure. Turkey
Archaeology clashes with development in Turkey's ancient city of Sagalassos Excavated since 1990 by Belgian and Turkish archaeologists, Sagalassos offers not only a visit through majestic Roman monuments but also a glimpse on how people lived, worked, worshipped and died in the past. Turkey
Trump's threat to Iran's antiquities sets off global uproar With 24 recognized sites, Iran is most heavily represented Middle Eastern country on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites. United States
Can Karnak sphinxes survive on Tahrir Square? Egyptian and international experts and activists worry that moving four ram-headed sphinxes from Luxor to Tahrir Square will destroy the monuments. Egypt
The Istanbul Archaeological Museums return, piece by piece A vast plan to restore and revitalize Turkey's first modern museum, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, established in 1869, remains a partial work in progress, but the completion of the first phase has produced a visitor friendly and engaging environment. Turkey
Archaeology's Trojan War: The artist who took on Schliemann Osman Hamdi, a 19th-century Ottoman painter whose works sold at record prices earlier this year, also saved artifacts from being smuggled out of Turkey by foreign archaeologists. Turkey
Basra Museum struggles to keep Iraq's heritage at home The Basra Museum displays around 2,200 objects from the Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian and Hellenistic eras — 100 of which were reportedly looted and returned to Iraq from Jordan and the United States. Iraq
New Iraqi board games revisit cultural heritage, create common ground Iraqis have played board games for millennia, and a new generation of them are creating new ones steeped in Iraqi history with the hope of getting more of them to put down their screens and meet other players face to face. Iraq
