Ancient lost city 3,400 years old discovered under Tigris River in Iraq

When droughts in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq caused the waters of the Tigris River to recede, it led a group of archeologists to make an amazing discovery: a 3,400-year-old lost city.

The Bronze Age village is estimated to have been built between 1475 BC and 1275 BC, when the Mitanni Empire (ca. 1550-1350 BC) ruled over parts of northern Mesopotamia and Syria. The settlement is made up of mud bricks and includes a palace, several multi-story storage buildings, a massive fortification of walls and towers, and an industrial complex.

The city’s complex composition led the team of German and Kurdish archeologists to believe it might be the ancient city of Zakhiku, an important trade hub of the Kingdom of Mitanni.

“The huge magazine building is of particular importance because enormous quantities of goods must have been stored in it, probably brought from all over the region,” said Dr. Ivana Puljiz of the University of Freiburg in a statement. 

The site, which was being investigated for the first time, was submerged under water about 40 years ago when the Mosul reservoir—Iraq’s most important water storage—was built. This year, the extreme drought caused the water levels to recede, uncovering the lost city.  

A 3,400-year-old city in Iraq emerges from underwater after an extreme drought. Archaeologists raced against the clock to excavate the site before rising water levels engulfed the city again. pic.twitter.com/XphGanM1of

— Anne Tootill (@toot5000) June 20, 2022

Archeologists and researchers planned to further investigate the city before it potentially resubmerged. So far, the team has mapped the city and found important archeological artifacts.

The team found five ceramic vessels that contained more than 100 cuneiform tablets, some still folded within clay envelopes, which could provide valuable information about the city and the Mitanni empire. 

“It is close to a miracle that cuneiform tablets made of unfired clay survived so many decades underwater,” said Tübingen’s Dr. Peter Pfälzner.

Sungai Tigris #Irak Mengering, Sebuah Desa Berusia 3.400 Tahun Ditemukan.
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The receding waters of the Tigris #River in Iraq led to the emergence of a 3,400-#year_old city.
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إنحسار مياه #نهر_دجلة في #العراق أدى لظهور مدينة عمرها 3,400 عام. pic.twitter.com/8tNPcidxeA

— Gazamedia (@Gazamediaa) June 18, 2022

The archeologists were astonished by the well-preserved state of the walls, many of which are several meters tall, despite being underwater for so long. They believe the city was conserved by being destroyed in an earthquake around 1350 BC, which caused the collapsing upper parts of the walls to bury the buildings. 

To prevent further damage to the city from possible flooding and help preserve it, the buildings were covered with plastic sheeting and covered with gravel fill. 

Once more, the river took over the city and it is entirely submerged.