Introduction

The curator of ancient mesopotamian script languages and cultures at the british museum, says evidence of ghost belief can be found all the way back in the very oldest written sources. In his new book, the first ghosts irvingum picks what we can learn about supernatural beliefs from ancient Mesopotamian cuneaform tablets. I spoke to him to find out more. Why do you think that we're so eager to think that the the dead might return to exist among us? Bu one of the reasons is this, that there's so much testimony all over the world, for such a long period of time. People don't wear their ghosts on their sleeve.