Philadelphia: Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have unearthed a visual archive that offers a poignant glimpse into the past of Iraq’s Yazidi communities.
According to France24.com, the collection of black-and-white photographs was discovered in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the university. These images, which were captured during archaeological digs in the 1930s, document the daily lives of the Yazidi community, a religious minority that faced devastation at the hands of the Islamic State militant group.
The photographs were initially scattered among approximately 2,000 images from excavations led by the University of Pennsylvania Museum. The rediscovery of these images has become a significant cultural recovery for the Yazidis, whose history was nearly obliterated by ISIS. The photos have brought joy and a sense of historical continuity to individuals like Basher, a 43-year-old Yazidi woman. Her family’s history, including photos of her grandfather and great-grandfather, has been given new life through this archive.
The archive showcases the Yazidi people, their traditions, and their places, serving as a form of resistance against the destruction of their heritage by ISIS. Marin Webb, alongside Toronto documentarian Nathaniel Brunt, is working to share this archive with the Yazidi community through regional exhibits and digital platforms. Brunt, a postdoctoral student at the University of Victoria Libraries, emphasized the importance of these photographs as a counter to the destruction of religious and heritage sites by ISIS.
The first exhibitions occurred in April, coinciding with the Yazidi New Year celebrations. These exhibitions were held in locations that the photos depicted nearly a century ago, offering a powerful way to revive memories threatened by ethnic cleansing. Basher’s brother, visiting from Germany, recognized their grandparents in the exhibit, helping researchers piece together more of the community’s history.
The collection includes wedding photos and images of everyday life, providing a vivid portrayal of Yazidi culture. Basher has shared these photos on social media to challenge misconceptions about Iraq and highlight the resilience of her people. Her grandfather, Bashir Sadiq Rashid al-Rashidani, played a significant role in the archival history, hosting archaeologists and participating in the excavations.
The photos were taken by Ephraim Avigdor Speiser, who led the digs at ancient Mesopotamian sites in northern Iraq. Basher’s father, Mohsin Bashir Sadiq, recalls the wedding as a historic event, noting it was possibly the first time a car was used in their town.
Architect Marin Webb believes these images provide a narrative of Yazidi life beyond the violence they have endured, showing them as a vibrant community. The preservation of these images at the museum, safeguarded by archivists like Alessandro Pezzati, has allowed for this cultural revival. Pezzati noted that such collections often remain dormant until rediscovered by individuals passionate about history and heritage.