3,400 years old city discovered in Iraq

[FfFfFfFF 58,358]

A team of German and Kurdish archaeologists have uncovered a 3400-year-old Mittani Empire-era city once located on the Tigris River.

The settlement emerged from the waters of the Mosul reservoir early this year as water levels fell rapidly due to extreme drought in Iraq. The extensive city with a palace and several large buildings could be ancient Zakhiku – believed to have been an important center in the Mittani Empire (ca. 1550-1350 BC).

A team for the rescue excavations was put together within days. Funding for the work was obtained at short notice from the Fritz Thyssen Foundation through the University of Freiburg.

The German-Kurdish archaeological team was under immense time pressure because it was not clear when the water in the reservoir would rise again. 

Within a short time, the researchers succeeded in largely mapping the city. In addition to a palace, which had already been documented during a short campaign in 2018, several other large buildings were uncovered – a massive fortification with wall and towers, a monumental, multi-storey storage building and an industrial complex. The extensive urban complex dates to the time of the Empire of Mittani (approx. 1550-1350 BC), which controlled large parts of northern Mesopotamia and Syria.

The research team was stunned by the well-preserved state of the walls – sometimes to a height of several meters – despite the fact that the walls are made of sun-dried mud bricks and were under water for more than 40 years.

This good preservation is due to the fact that the city was destroyed in an earthquake around 1350 BC, during which the collapsing upper parts of the walls buried the buildings.

Of particular interest is the discovery of five ceramic vessels that contained an archive of over 100 cuneiform tablets. 

Source - https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/university/news-and-publications/press-releases/press-releases/article/a-3400-year-old-city-emerges-from-the-tigris-river/ 

[Elliot Parker 358]

4 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

A team of German and Kurdish archaeologists have uncovered a 3400-year-old Mittani Empire-era city once located on the Tigris River.

The settlement emerged from the waters of the Mosul reservoir early this year as water levels fell rapidly due to extreme drought in Iraq. The extensive city with a palace and several large buildings could be ancient Zakhiku – believed to have been an important center in the Mittani Empire (ca. 1550-1350 BC).

A team for the rescue excavations was put together within days. Funding for the work was obtained at short notice from the Fritz Thyssen Foundation through the University of Freiburg.

The German-Kurdish archaeological team was under immense time pressure because it was not clear when the water in the reservoir would rise again. 

Within a short time, the researchers succeeded in largely mapping the city. In addition to a palace, which had already been documented during a short campaign in 2018, several other large buildings were uncovered – a massive fortification with wall and towers, a monumental, multi-storey storage building and an industrial complex. The extensive urban complex dates to the time of the Empire of Mittani (approx. 1550-1350 BC), which controlled large parts of northern Mesopotamia and Syria.

The research team was stunned by the well-preserved state of the walls – sometimes to a height of several meters – despite the fact that the walls are made of sun-dried mud bricks and were under water for more than 40 years.

This good preservation is due to the fact that the city was destroyed in an earthquake around 1350 BC, during which the collapsing upper parts of the walls buried the buildings.

Of particular interest is the discovery of five ceramic vessels that contained an archive of over 100 cuneiform tablets. 

Source - https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/university/news-and-publications/press-releases/press-releases/article/a-3400-year-old-city-emerges-from-the-tigris-river/ 

Babylon vibess 

[robboadam 2,555]

Serve it ancient city style

[James Gibson 3,565]

chromatica ball impact

[PunkTheFunk 125,719]

The ancient dwellers of Zakhiku reading this thread from beyond the grave:

 

[Reject False Icons 4,958]

Stream Babylon so archaeologists can find more Mesopotamic cities 

[Emvee 8,845]

Can you imagine all the ancient cities that are at the bottom of the Persian Gulf? Persian gulf used to be an extension of the Tigris and the Euphrates. I imagine cities gradually being engulfed is where we got the great flood myths. 

[FfFfFfFF 58,358]

On 7/25/2022 at 8:42 AM, Emvee said:

Can you imagine all the ancient cities that are at the bottom of the Persian Gulf? Persian gulf used to be an extension of the Tigris and the Euphrates. I imagine cities gradually being engulfed is where we got the great flood myths. 

Some relate it with the flooding of the Black Sea.