Military now giving tours of antiquities in Iraq!

The Great Ziggurat of Ur stands after 4,000 years near Ali Base, Iraq. The Ziggurat construction was finished in the 21st century BC by King Shulgi in the ancient Sumerian city of Ur in Mesopotamia, which is near An Nasiriyah in present-day Iraq. Members of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group Chaplains Office offer three tours weekly of the Ziggurat and ruins of the city of Ur.

Dhaif Muhsen, Iraq Ministry of Antiquities curator for the Ur site, explains the history behind the oldest known standing archway in the world, located in the ruins of the ancient city of Ur

ALI BASE, Iraq — Less than two miles outside the front gate lies an area of historical and biblical significance – a place where the man considered the father of all nations, Abraham, used to call home. This place houses a temple nearby called the Ziggurat of Ur.

The city of Ur (Ur of Chaldeans) is located in southern area of Iraq and was first identified in Genesis 12:28. It is considered the most ancient city within Sumaria and later Babylonia.

The Sumerians were credited with inventing beer, irrigation, the wheel and the first written language.

“The Ziggurat was originally a place of worship for the Sumerians who built it about 4,000 years ago,” said Chaplain Maj. Kevin Lockett, 407th Air Expeditionary Group chaplain. “This was the place civilization, as we know it, began. This was the time when people evolved from individual families who survived as hunters and gatherers into communities where they relied upon each other as farmers, craftsmen and tradesmen. This was one of the first cities known to exist.”

According to Lockett, Abraham, the son of a wealthy merchant, was thought to have lived there during his childhood and part of his adulthood before traveling to Canaan.

Staff Sgt. Ariel Sauvey, 407th Expeditionary Operation Support Squadron, takes in the view of the ruins of King Shulgi's palace from atop the Great Ziggurat of Ur, Feb. 9. The Ziggurat construction was finished in the 21st century BC by King Shulgi in the ancient city of Mesopotamia, which is near An Nasiriyah in present-day Iraq.

A Soldier looks into the dark ruins of a royal tomb, Feb. 9, near the Great Ziggurat of Ur. The tombs were built more than 4,000 years ago in the Sumerian city of Ur in ancient Mesopotamia, near present-day An Nasiriyah, Iraq

Now, services members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors have the opportunity to experience that history by taking a tour of the Ziggurat and Abraham’s home with 407th AEG Chaplains Office. The tour, which averages about 30 people, began several Air and Space Expeditionary Force cycles ago under the guidance of the Chaplain Corps.

Services members who want to take the tour first have to sign up for an orientation and safety briefing. Briefings are held Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Bedrock Chapel Annex, a week prior to the tour. Tours are held Sundays and Mondays at 2:30 p.m.

During the tour, service members can expect to visit the Ziggurat of Ur, the oldest-known standing archway in the world, a royal palace and tombs of the members of the third dynasty of Ur, and the home of Abraham.

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Story by Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh

Insurgent mortar fire struck the Great Ziggurat of Ur, a national historic site, twice July 14.

The 4,000 year-old historical site was considered a dwelling place for the gods in ancient Mesopotamia. No structural damage has being reported at this time.

There were no deaths or injuries reported during the attack. The incident is under investigation.

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Bottled water or tap water? For several years this has been an unfiltered debate in the United States. Now it is a debate for the citizens of Abu Ajil, Iraq.

A water treatment facility project was recently completed in Abu Ajil, which is located just outside of Tikrit, Iraq. The facility will provide a better purified source of water for more than 15,000 Iraqi citizens who inhabit the famed Fertile Crescent region.

For thousands of years, the Tigris River has been the wellspring of life for Iraq, providing abundant refreshment to crops, animals and the people of ancient Mesopotamia.

The Tigris River has seen dramatic changes in the last fifty years. During the 1960’s and 70’s several dams and barrages were created to harness the river for irrigation and hydroelectric purposes according to a Georgetown University report. Additionally, former dictator Saddam Hussein created forced droughts on marsh lands in southern Iraq by constructing river obstacles.

Today, the Soldiers of Charlie Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division opened the floodgates of the newly completed water treatment facility initially built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers several years ago.

The 1st STB Executive Officer Maj. Tim Povich said, “This project was stalled for a little while and it took C Co. commander Capt. Mike Gacheru working with Abu Ajil leadership as well as the Provincial Reconstruction Team to help get this project moving again.”

Povich added, “It’s a start, but there is still a lot of work to be done.” Water managers and engineers were concerned about leaks in the water pipes due to poor sealants. Poor sealants may cause low water pressure.

Charlie Company commander Capt. Mike Gacheru said, “It’s a great day opening up this water project in Abu Ajil. The residents did not have water for about a year. Most of the people had to buy bottled water at the store. The people were getting sick from non-bottled water.”

The people of Iraq have endured a parched lifestyle for decades. This water treatment facility is a step forward in quenching their desire for a better life. A local Iraqi citizen said, “Thank you very much. This is a great project.”

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By Maj. Johnpaul Arnold
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division