2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal found in Iraq

A rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian monument has been found at the ancient city of Nineveh in Iraq. The discovery is a major success for an area where Islamic State militants (ISIS) deliberately destroyed ancient history nearly a decade ago.The stone monument is two metres high. It celebrates the building projects of King Ashurbanipal, who ruled the Neo-Assyrian Empire at its peak between 668 BC and 627 BC. Archaeologists found the artifact at the historic Shamash Gate entrance. The stone features detailed cuneiform writing and carved portraits of kings on both sides.A team of Iraqi and American researchers found the monument during restoration work. They are repairing historical sites that were heavily damaged during the battles to free the city from militant control between 2016 and 2017.The Nineveh Department of Antiquities and Heritage confirmed that the monument has been moved to its headquarters.