WHO:Museum professionals from Iraq, U.S. State Department, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

WHAT:Educational tour and preview of upcoming Museum exhibition for Iraqi museum professionals

WHEN: Monday, March 8, 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:  University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South S., Philadelphia

A group of "next generation" Iraqi museum professionals, in the country for a U.S. State Department, multi-city "Cultural Heritage Institute" tour, will visit the Penn Museum Monday, March 8.

Representatives from the State Department's Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Penn Museum will offer perspectives on the educational visit for the 23 Iraqis at 2 p.m. in the Nevel Classroom of the Penn Museum.  A full press release about the program, administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, is available.  

From 2:15 to 2:30 p.m. in the Penn Museum's Dietrich Gallery, they will be given a sneak preview of the Museum's  "Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur" exhibition, now under construction and scheduled to open to the public March 13.  World-famous, 4,500 year old ancient Sumerian artifacts from Ur, an ancient site in Iraq excavated in a joint British Museum and Penn Museum excavation project in the 1920s and 30's, will be on display.