15 March. ICCROM is saddened to hear of the recent passing of Dr Donny George Youkhanna, Iraqi archaeologist and teacher, and former Director of the Iraq National Museum.

Dr George was educated at the University of Baghdad, receiving his BA, MA, and PhD in prehistoric archaeology. In 1976, he joined the staff of the Iraq National Museum and became Director from 2003 to 2005. He was instrumental in saving the museum after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, leading efforts in the recovery of stolen cultural objects that were looted. During this time, he kept in regular contact with UNESCO, which was organizing emergency efforts in the aftermath of the looting. As Director, he led projects to repair damage to the museum and created an Assyrian hall thanks to aid obtained from Italy. Additionally, he helped establish a conservation training programme.

From 2005 to 2006, Dr George became Chairman of the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, while at the same time lecturing in the Department of Archaeology and College of Engineering in the University of Baghdad, and the Babylon College for Theology and Philosophy. As a field archaeologist, he excavated and worked on restoration projects on such famous sites as Babylon, Nimrud, and Ur.

Due to security reasons, he was forced to flee Iraq in 2006, taking up a position as Visiting Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University, New York, USA. Dr George will be remembered for his dedication to the recovery of nearly half of the more than 15,000 cultural objects stolen from the Iraq National Museum.

Mounir Bouchenaki
Director-General

In this photo (left to right): representative of the Coalition Army; Dr Donny George; Ambassador Pietro Cordone, the provisional authority's Senior Adviser on cultural affairs; and Dr Jabber Khalil Ibrahim, President of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage. May 2003. Photo credit: UNESCO/Mounir Bouchenaki.

updated on: 17 March, 2011