Receding waters at Iraq’s largest reservoir have unveiled a remarkable archaeological discovery: forty ancient tombs dating back over 2,300 years. The burial sites, located along the Mosul Dam reservoir in northern Iraq, emerged as prolonged drought conditions dramatically lowered water levels.
The newly discovered tombs are believed to originate from the Hellenistic or Hellenistic-Seleucid period, making them approximately 2,300 years old. While archaeologists had conducted preliminary surveys of the area in 2023 during an earlier drop in water levels, they were only able to identify fragments of a few burial sites at that time.
This discovery represents the latest in a series of archaeological revelations brought about by Iraq’s severe water shortage. The region has experienced five consecutive years of drought, causing water levels to drop and exposing ancient ruins that had been submerged for decades or centuries.
Brefkany’s team is racing against time to excavate the tombs before water levels potentially rise again. Once excavated, the artifacts and remains will be transported to the Duhok Museum for detailed analysis and preservation.
This discovery follows other significant archaeological finds revealed by the drought, including a 3,400-year-old sunken city that emerged from the Tigris River in 2022. While the drought poses serious challenges for agriculture and power generation, it has provided archaeologists with unprecedented access to Iraq’s ancient heritage.
Featuring Image Courtesy: Al Jazeera
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