 It helped in the creation of the Basra Museum opened in 2016.In 2011 the BISI sold one third of its collection of Nimrud Ivories, discovered between 1949 and 1963 in excavations led by Sir Max Mallowan, to the British Museum for £1.17million.Another third was donated to the British Museum in recognition of the storage of the collection by the museum over the previous 24 years.