Mosul honors archaeologist Ahmed Qassim Jumaa with Medal of Creativity and book launch

MOSUL — In a ceremony held at the Engineers Syndicate in Mosul on Friday, the Mosul Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Iraq’s Ministry of Culture, awarded the Medal of Creativity to renowned Iraqi archaeologist professor Ahmed Qassim Jumaa.

The event, attended by a group of archaeologists, historians, and officials, celebrated Jumaa’s lifelong contributions to Iraqi heritage and marked the launch of his latest book, A Session on the Banks of Mosul Heritage.

Born in 1938 in Nineveh, Professor Ahmed Qassim Jumaa graduated from the Department of Archaeology at the University of Baghdad in 1962. He later earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Cairo University, Egypt, in the 1970s.

Speaking to 964media, Ahmed Qassim Jumaa stated that, “I am very pleased with this celebration. My book, A Session on the Banks of Mosul Heritage, is a collection of investigative studies and field observations conducted over the past years.”

The 282-page book, written in both formal Arabic and the local Moslawi dialect, spans nine chapters covering societal, economic, artistic, architectural, and religious themes. “The book also includes engineering sketches and artistic drawings, all done by me personally,” he added.

Jumaa further reflects on his dedication to preserving Mosul’s architectural and cultural legacy, “I still have much more about Mosul architecture and its arts that I wish to write about, if I am granted more time in life,” he said.

With 36 published books and hundreds of research papers to his name, Professor Jumaa has extensively documented historical architecture and heritage sites in Mosul, Baghdad, and Basra.

Jumaa emphasized the ongoing contributions of Mosul archaeologists in restoring heritage sites, praising their dedication to continuing the work he started decades ago.

Ayoub Thanoon, director of the Mosul Heritage Foundation, stated that the Creativity Medal would become an annual tradition, honoring individuals who make exceptional contributions to archaeology and heritage preservation.

Former Director of the Mosul Museum, Ria Mohsen, described Jumaa as an “icon and mentor for generations of archaeologists in Mosul,” stressing that his legacy extends far beyond his writings and research, serving as a cornerstone of the country’s cultural and historical identity.