Resident opens heritage exhibit in Mosul’s Rashidiya to preserve local history

MOSUL — Ahmad Hassan, a resident of Mosul’s Rashidiya, has established a small heritage exhibit using antique items donated by locals in an effort to preserve the area’s history. The neighborhood is known for agriculture and livestock breeding and has a predominantly Turkmen population.

Hassan began collecting old belongings from area residents three years ago. Some of the items are estimated to be up to 100 years old and include agricultural tools, household items, windows, jars, and a wooden refrigerator.

He recently organized the collection into a small exhibition space in a neighborhood shop.

“In the beginning, I collected the items in my house, and when I had enough, I opened this small exhibit six months ago as a first step toward establishing a larger museum in the future,” Hassan told 964media.

He said that any donated item includes the name of the donor, and the collection is open to further contributions. The aim is to give the items greater value by placing them in a display where younger generations can learn about the past.

Among the showcased objects are iron windows made using a pressing technique without welding, which were common in older homes in Rashidiya.

The exhibit also features a wooden refrigerator believed to be 60 to 70 years old, a tool locally known as “fattal” used to draw water from wells, and a stone mortar, or najr hajari, used for grinding grain or pounding meat. Hassan said a piece of the stone mortar was found along the Tigris River near Rashidiya, though its exact age remains unknown.

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