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Show I 'Dudu' Squatters Hold Castle BAGHDAD, IRAQ. "Dudu" s priceless portrait statue, more than 4,500 years old, has defeated the black market. The statue has been recovered by the Iraq department of antiquities an-tiquities from would-be black market dealers. The 20-inch high portrait was identified as a representation of "dudu," described as scribe, high priest, minister, chief musician and magician to King Entemena, ancient ruler of Sumeria. Announcement of the find was made in an issue of "Sumer," official Iraq archaeological journal. jour-nal. Dudu, a benevolent appearing figure carved - from hard lava rock, now sits on display in the Iraq archaeological museum. But he got there about a month, ago only after some diligent detective work by Iraq officials, plus the help of an American resident who must remain nameless for the time being. For the six years previous, according ac-cording to museum officials, Dudu had been in the hands of illicit dealers in antiquities. These dealers bought the statue from some peasants who . unearthed un-earthed it while digging an irrigation ir-rigation ditch near Telloh, site of an old Sumerian city where excavation work was carried on about 40 years ago. |