BAGHDAD, (Reuters) – Iraqi archaeologists have  discovered 4,000 artefacts mostly from ancient Babylonian times,  including royal seals, talismans and clay tablets marked in  Sumerian cuneiform — the earliest known form of writing.

The treasures came to light, the Tourism and Antiquities  Ministry said yesterday, after two years of excavations  across 20 different sites in the regions between the Tigris and  Euphrates rivers, the land ancient Greeks referred to as  “Mesopotamia”.

As well as Babylonian artefacts, there were finds from the  ancient Persian empire and more recent medieval Islamic cities.

“The results of this excavation are evidence that Iraq’s  antiquities aren’t going to run out any time soon,” Abdul-Zahra  al-Telagani, spokesman for the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry,  said.

“They also give us the incentive to continue to work to  rehabilitate our ancient sites to become tourist attractions.”

The artefacts will be transferred to the National Museum in  Baghdad, which remains in need of restocking since looters stole  approximately 15,000 artefacts after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.  Some 6,000 have since been returned.

Iraq, which lies in the heart of a region historians call  the cradle of civilisation, is hoping a decrease in violence to  levels not seen since late 2003 will encourage tourists to visit  its ancient sites.

Potential highlights include the Biblical city of Babylon,  fabled home to the Hanging Gardens, the Assyrian city of Nineveh  in the north, relics of numerous medieval Islamic citadels, and  some of Shi’ite Islam’s holiest mosques and shrines.

Iraq witnessed its first group of Western tourists last  month, and officials hope more will follow.