British School of Archaeology in Iraq
Encyclopedia
The British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI) (formerly the British School of Archaeology in Iraq) is the only body in Britain
devoted to research into the ancient civilizations and languages of Mesopotamia
.
It is a registered charity
and has its headquarters in the office of the British Academy
at Carlton House Terrace
in London.
The School was founded in 1932 as a memorial to the life and works of Gertrude Bell
. Its aims are to encourage, support and undertake research into the archaeology (and cognate subjects) of Iraq
, and the neighbouring countries, from the earliest times to c. AD 1700.
Since 1934, the School has published a refereed journal, Iraq, which is now published annually, in November/December of each year.
The School carried out excavations in Iraq before the Second World War. Activities resumed in 1948, and the School worked continuously from then until 1990. Since then the School has been prevented by political circumstances from resuming its research activities. However, friendly relations with the Iraqi Department of Antiquities
and contact with Iraqi colleagues have been maintained, mainly through private visits.
In the aftermath of 2003 invasion of Iraq
, the school devoted its resources to assisting in the rebuilding of Iraq’s heritage.
The School is funded by a grant from the British Government; it also receives an income from private sources. It currently has about 650 subscribing members. It is governed by a Council, which meets in London and is elected annually by the members, under Regulations approved by the original members in 1932 but recently revised.
On 12 December 2007 the organization's name was changed to The British Institute for the Study of Iraq (Gertrude Bell Memorial).
, discovered between 1949 and 1963 in excavations led by Sir Max Mallowan
, to the British Museum
for £1.17million. Another third was donated to the British Museum in recognition of the storage of the collection by the museum over the previous 24 years. It is anticipated that the remaining third of the collection will be returned to Iraq sometime in the future. A selection of the ivories was put on display at the British Museum in 2011.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
devoted to research into the ancient civilizations and languages of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
.
It is a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
and has its headquarters in the office of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
at Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace refers to a street in the St. James's district of the City of Westminster in London, England, and in particular to two terraces of white stucco-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St. James's Park. These terraces were built in 1827–32 to overall designs by...
in London.
The School was founded in 1932 as a memorial to the life and works of Gertrude Bell
Gertrude Bell
Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her extensive travels in Greater Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. Along...
. Its aims are to encourage, support and undertake research into the archaeology (and cognate subjects) of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, and the neighbouring countries, from the earliest times to c. AD 1700.
Since 1934, the School has published a refereed journal, Iraq, which is now published annually, in November/December of each year.
The School carried out excavations in Iraq before the Second World War. Activities resumed in 1948, and the School worked continuously from then until 1990. Since then the School has been prevented by political circumstances from resuming its research activities. However, friendly relations with the Iraqi Department of Antiquities
Antiquities
Antiquities, nearly always used in the plural in this sense, is a term for objects from Antiquity, especially the civilizations of the Mediterranean: the Classical antiquity of Greece and Rome, Ancient Egypt and the other Ancient Near Eastern cultures...
and contact with Iraqi colleagues have been maintained, mainly through private visits.
In the aftermath of 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, the school devoted its resources to assisting in the rebuilding of Iraq’s heritage.
The School is funded by a grant from the British Government; it also receives an income from private sources. It currently has about 650 subscribing members. It is governed by a Council, which meets in London and is elected annually by the members, under Regulations approved by the original members in 1932 but recently revised.
On 12 December 2007 the organization's name was changed to The British Institute for the Study of Iraq (Gertrude Bell Memorial).
Assyrian ivories
In 2011 the BISI sold one third of its collection of Nimrud IvoriesNimrud ivories
The Nimrud ivories are carved ivory plaques and figures dating from the 9th to the 7th centuries BC that were excavated from the Assyrian city of Nimrud during the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of the ivories were taken to the United Kingdom and were deposited in the British Museum...
, discovered between 1949 and 1963 in excavations led by Sir Max Mallowan
Max Mallowan
Sir Max Edgar Lucien Mallowan, CBE was a prominent British archaeologist, specialising in ancient Middle Eastern history, and the second husband of Dame Agatha Christie.-Life and work:...
, to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
for £1.17million. Another third was donated to the British Museum in recognition of the storage of the collection by the museum over the previous 24 years. It is anticipated that the remaining third of the collection will be returned to Iraq sometime in the future. A selection of the ivories was put on display at the British Museum in 2011.