Mr. Amer Abdul-Razzaq
Iraqi archaeologist · Adviser to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities · Born in Shatra, 1975
An archaeologist with Sumer at heart
Amer Abdul-Razzaq Atiya Al-Zubaidi is an Iraqi archaeologist, born in Shatra, Dhi Qar, in 1975. He graduated in archaeology from the University of Baghdad in 2000/2001 and has excavated Sumerian, Babylonian and Islamic sites, from Tell al-Lahm (Kissiga) to Tello (Girsu), where he supervised the British Museum mission in 2021.
He has directed the antiquities and heritage of Dhi Qar and the Nasiriyah Civilisation Museum, advised the head of Dhi Qar's provincial council and later its governor on tourism and antiquities, became director of the World Heritage sites of Ur and Eridu in 2026, and is today adviser to Iraq's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.
For Amer, antiquities are not stones from the past but identity and national memory. He has carried that message to universities, schools, cultural centres and neighbourhoods, giving more than a thousand lectures in Iraq and abroad, and founded, at his own initiative, a programme for heritage awareness and national identity reaching every Iraqi province.
- 1975Born in Shatra, Dhi Qar.
- 2000/2001BA in Archaeology, University of Baghdad.
- 2005Member of the survey and excavation mission at Tell al-Lahm (Kissiga).
- 2006Lectures on excavation for the College of Archaeology, University of Al-Qadisiyah.
- 2010 & 2012Director of Antiquities and Heritage of Dhi Qar.
- 2014Adviser on tourism and antiquities to the head of Dhi Qar Provincial Council.
- 2016Honorary doctorate in archaeology from Uzbekistan.
- 2019 – 2021Director of the Nasiriyah Civilisation Museum.
- 2021Supervisor of the British Museum mission at Tello (Girsu).
- 2021 & 2022Director of Antiquities and Heritage of Dhi Qar.
- 2024Adviser on tourism and antiquities to the Governor of Dhi Qar.
- 2025Three national awards, including the State Award for Model Employee.
- 2026Director of the World Heritage sites of Ur and Eridu (UNESCO).
- TodayAdviser to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.
Source: Mr. Amer's official CV.
Come with me to the excavations
Islamic Basra
Member of the Iraqi excavation mission in the Islamic city of Basra.
Tell Abu Thahab
Member of the Iraqi excavation mission at the Babylonian site, three seasons.
Central & southern Iraq
Member of the archaeological survey committee for central and southern Iraq.
Tell al-Lahm · Kissiga
Member of the survey and excavation mission in the city of Kissiga.
Taking Mesopotamia to the world
Abroad
- JapanTokyo & Kyoto2024
Lectures at the universities of Tokyo and Kyoto, by official invitation
- ChinaBeijing2019
Lecture on Iraq's civilisation at the International Trade Academy, and a conservation course
- United StatesNew York2018
Course on protecting antiquities and recovering trafficked objects; training at the Met
- ItalyRome2009
International certificate in pottery drawing, University of Rome
- JordanAmman
International course in museum management (2013); guest of the TV programme “Atraf al-Hadith” with Majid Al-Samarrai
- LebanonBisour
Lecture on the historical ties between Iraq and Lebanon at the Bisour Cultural Centre
- UAEDubai2025
Took part in World Tourism Week
- TDEx international platform2022
Featured speaker as a global success story
In Iraq
- Baghdad 2024
Baghdad International Book Fair: archaeology lecture
- Mosul 2025
Mosul International Book Fair: archaeology lecture
- Babylon 2026
Babylon International Festival: “Heritage in Mesopotamian civilisation”
- Basra
Lecture aboard the international ship Logos Hope, the largest floating book fair
- Duhok
Assyrian Cultural Centre: lecture on Assyrian civilisation
- Nasiriyah
Public lecture on the corniche during “Nasiriyah Reads”
- Wasit 2026
Lecture on Wasit's heritage on the province's national day
- Babylon
World Conference on Women's Health: paper on women's healthcare in ancient Iraq
- Dhi Qar
Iraqi Laws Conference, University of Dhi Qar: paper on animal rights in ancient Iraqi religious and legal thought
- Al-Qadisiyah 2006
Lectures on excavation for the College of Archaeology
Lectures and podiums
Books and programmes that carry his message
The Archaeological Tourist Guide to Dhi Qar
A guide to the province's archaeological sites and treasures.
Iraq: Origin and Root of the Earth
A book on Mesopotamian identity and its continuity today.
“Under Excavation” (Qeid al-Tanqib)
A programme he writes and presents on the Khallik Ijabi platform, telling the stories of sites and objects.
“Our Roots, Our Identity”
Deputy director of the programme that won the Prime Minister's grant for heritage awareness in 2025.
Heritage awareness & national identity
A programme he founded at his own initiative, reaching every Iraqi province.
Upcoming lectures
No lectures announced right now. Follow his page for new dates.
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Past lectures
Come with me…
For invitations, lectures and cooperation on heritage awareness, contact Mr. Amer through his official page or the media page.