Since 1983, Iraq has lobbied to have Babylon, the "Mesopotamian metropolis," recognized as an official World Heritage Site. For three decades, Iraq persisted until finally, on July 5th, a committee met in Azerbaijan to vote for the city to be recognized by UNESCO. According to a piece in Al Jazeera, Iraq's UNESCO World Heritage Committee representative stated, "What is the world heritage list without Babylon? How to tell the history of humanity without the earliest of old chapters, Babylon?" 

Located near the Euphrates River south of Baghdad, Babylon was the center of the Babylonian empire. Recognizable by its temples and towers made of mudbricks, Babylon is famously associated with the Tower of Babel as well as the Ishtar Gate. The site and its structures are also prevalent in several religious texts. With only 18 percent of the area unearthed, the site is not fully excavated. However, the ancient site is filled with archaeological ruins that link to 4,000 years worth of historical information. 

With the city of Babylon finally recognized by UNESCO, the head of Basra Antiquities Department, Qahtan al-Abeed, shared with Al Jazeera that the listing will "will encourage research and development of the site" and would "be free publicity for tourists."