Ever since the 6th millennium BC, when the world's oldest civilization-those wonderfully industrious Sumerians-sprouted up between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Mesopotamian area has been a fertile marketplace for innovations in writing, mathematics, art, and architecture. The many iterations of the region-Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Islamic Caliphate, Mongol, Ottoman, modern, and everything in between-have each left indelible marks on the culture of the region.Iraq is, as Neatorama writes, a veritable "treasure trove of archaeological artifacts." But it isn't exactly a hotbed of tourism these days-what with all the bombs and instability. Fortunately, by perusing The Virtual Museum of Iraq, you can experience a visual journey through centuries of culture without risking the loss of life or limb.