Looking for Ancient Treasure

Assur was once one of the greatest cities in the world. About 30,000 people lived there. A huge temple tower, or ziggurat, stood about 200 feet above the city streets. Assur (or Ashur) was one of the leading cities of Assyria, the center of a great empire.

Today, ancient Assur is in ruins. Desert sand has covered over much of the city that is over 3,000 years old. In the early 2000s, Assur faced a new threat: water.

A Dry Land

Assur is located in what is now Iraq, a country in the Middle East. Many parts of Iraq are covered by desert. Water is hard to find in the desert areas. To increase the amount of water, Iraqi officials were planning to build a dam on the river Tigris.

The dam would have trapped the river's water. As the water would have risen, it would have likely flooded Assur and many other nearby ancient ruins. 

Scientists were worried that floodwaters would destroy artifacts hidden beneath the desert sand. Assur had already been the site of some amazing discoveries.

A Rich Past

Scientists discovered four hidden tombs at Assur. They found ancient coffins, gold, jewelry, and gems. They also dug up the remains of two ancient Assyrian queens.

Scientists used modern medical equipment to study the queens' bodies. They learned about some of the medical problems the ancient queens suffered from. The bodies showed evidence of dental cavities, sinus infections, and poor nutrition.

Michael Müller-Karpe, a scientist who studies ancient Assyria, said, "The Assyrian queens have just begun to speak to us, and we are looking forward to more answers."

Preserving the Past

Müller-Karpe and other scientists worried that the dam would have kept them from getting more answers. Even if the dam were completed and didn’t flood Assur, the rising water would have damaged the ancient city. Moisture could cause the artifacts to crumble.

"You can't save Assur if it's [near] a dam," said scientist Peter Miglus. The soil beneath the ancient city would soak up water like a sponge. The water in the soil would destroy what's left of ancient Assur.

Scientists continue trying to uncover the secrets hidden for centuries in Assur and other nearby communities. Meanwhile, some people have been looking for ways to keep the ancient cities safe. "We don't want the slightest damage to Assur," one Iraqi official said.

Voting and Elections

In the United States, citizens have the important job of voting to choose their leaders. Voting is a way for people to have a say in how their government works. Elections are held regularly so that leaders can be chosen fairly. Some elections happen every year, while others, like the presidential election, happen every four years.

The president is the leader of the whole country and is chosen by the people through voting. Besides the president, citizens also vote for other leaders like governors, mayors, and members of Congress. Voting is not only a right but also a responsibility. This means that citizens should take part in elections to help make their communities and country better.

Cells

All living things are made of cells. A cell is the smallest unit of life. Some living things, like bacteria, are made of just one cell. Others, like plants and animals, are made of millions or even trillions of cells.

Each cell has different parts that do specific jobs to keep the organism alive. In animal cells, the nucleus controls the cell and holds the cell’s genetic information. The cell membrane surrounds the cell and controls what goes in and out. The cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance where many cell activities happen.

Plant cells have the same parts as animal cells but also have two extra parts. One is the cell wall, which gives the plant cell a stiff shape. The other is the chloroplast, which helps the plant make food using sunlight in a process called photosynthesis.

Cells work together to form tissues, organs, and body systems. That’s how tiny cells help build entire plants and animals!