Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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So we found a pair of underpants while excavating the ancient Sumerian city of Girsu. We can date the pants to somewhere between 1929-1933. Weird. When we found them, they were buried with 4,000-year-old Sumerian objects. Weirder.

But that's archaeology at Tello, ancient Girsu. Strap in for British Museum Senior Producer Nick Harris' @preservethings not entirely necessary history of the entirety of Mesopotamia and Girsu all in the name of finding an excuse to put some poor French bloke's dirty undies on the internet.

NB Nick would like it to be known that the French underwear have shrunk owing to being in the ground for 90+ years. His pants aren't that gigantic. He swears.

CONTENT WARNING:
• Nick will talk about the pants...eventually.
• Fans of the Temple of Ningirsu may find this video distressing. 3 of the gates are not included in the illustration of the Temple. It was just too long.
• Strictly speaking, there is no 'F' sound in cuneiform. Nick had to get inventive with the Tier List. Irving Finkel did approve the translation though, which is nice.
• Nick recently became a dad. Dad jokes are in full effect.
• Features Nick's pants. Not by choice (honestly).

00:00 Foreshadowing
00:50 What was found at Girsu?
01:14 What does an archaeologist do?
02:39 Why is pottery important? Maybe even a little sexy?
03:42 What else we find at Girsu
03:54 Obligatory reference to Irving Finkel
04:20 Smoking reference
04:38 Finally! Pants!
04:57 Why Mesopotamia is called the Cradle of Civilization
06:46 Why Girsu was abandoned.
07:51 The French Excavations at Tello, Girsu
09:09 Nick's attempt at diplomacy
10:10 The problems with French excavations at Girsu
11:24 Why are the British Museum excavating Girsu?
13:10 Finally! Pants!
13:27 She's behind you!
14:57 What can we learn from the pants?
18:21 What will happen to the pants?

#CuratorsCorner #mesopotamia #WePromisePantsWeDeliverPants