Ali H.O. Bnayan

Ali H.O. Bnayan is an archeologist specializing in cuneiform at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad. He studied archaeology at the University of Kufa in Iraq and previously worked at the Documentary Center for Najaf Heritage. He is currently working on a new project focused on reviving cuneiform and the Sumerian language.

His most memorable payday: “During my graduate studies in 2018, I was sitting in al-Qishla, a former Ottoman military barracks that is now a cultural hub in the heart of Baghdad. I was writing cuneiform texts on pieces of clay just for fun when a foreign tourist saw my work and bought 10 pieces. I will always remember this.”