Baghdad - Iraq
The work of an archaeological project led by the Italian University of Udine, in cooperation with the Iraqi authorities, revealed new and exciting data about the “lower city” in the archaeological site of Nimrud (Kalhu), one of the most prominent capitals of the Assyrian Empire in northern Iraq, in a discovery that rewrites the history of this ancient city and enhances Iraq’s position as an archaeological tourist destination par excellence.

Drones and satellites map the city

Relying on modern technologies that included drones, satellite images, and topographical and magnetic surveys, the researchers were able to identify a wide network of streets, residential neighborhoods, and facilities buried underground. The results revealed that the lower city extended over about 340 hectares, and was surrounded by walls approximately 8 kilometers long, which confirms its status as a huge urban and cultural center that was home to craftsmen, merchants, and the general population.

Assyrian inscriptions reread the history of the region
During the surveys, important written materials were found, including parts of five Assyrian publications dating back to the reigns of Kings Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal, two of the most prominent kings of the Assyrian Empire, which opens new horizons for understanding political, religious and administrative life in that era, and prompts a re-examination of the water system in Nimrud in light of new archaeological data.

Dr. Finaccio: This city was the center of world civilization

Dr. Rocco Venaccio, head of the excavation team at the University of Udine, said:

"What we found in Nimrud goes beyond just an Assyrian city. It is a living testimony to the greatness of human civilization. The streets that we have identified and the neighborhoods that we have drawn tell us about an advanced civil system that operated thousands of years ago. These discoveries make Nimrud an irreplaceable destination for lovers of history and antiquities, and strengthen Iraq's position as one of the world's most important open museums."

Iraq returns to the archaeological tourist map
This archaeological project comes at a time when Iraq is witnessing an intense excavation movement in several sites, as part of a government plan to restore the country’s cultural heritage and promote cultural tourism, as the Italian team plans to continue surveying and excavation work to reveal more aspects of the daily life of the residents of this important Assyrian city, which enhances Iraq’s hopes of attracting tourists and those interested in antiquities from various countries of the world, especially with the improvement of security conditions and the country’s openness to tourism investment.

A promising tourist opportunity for antiquities lovers

These discoveries represent a golden opportunity to develop archaeological tourism in Iraq, especially for lovers of history and ancient civilizations from all over the world. The site, which is about 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul, was the scene of major destruction at the hands of ISIS in 2015, but these new discoveries raise hope that the site will be revived and opened to visitors, researchers and tourists alike, especially from the Gulf countries and the Arab world who are interested in their cultural and historical roots.