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An ancient city thought to be more than 5,000 years old has re-emerged from beneath the waters of Mosul Dam Lake in northern Iraq, according to Duhok’s Directorate of Antiquities.
Officials confirmed on Friday, that the site became visible after water levels dropped significantly.
The ruins lie in the old village of Khanke, south of Duhok Province. This settlement was submerged in the 1980s following the construction of the Mosul Dam, one of the largest water reservoirs in Iraq. Now, as the water receded, remains of the long-lost city have come into view.
Bekes Brifkani, head of the Duhok Antiquities Department, said the site contains the largest ancient cemetery uncovered so far in the region. Excavation teams working at the location unearthed clay coffins dating back to the Hellenistic era, around 300 B.C.
Brifkani noted that teams are continuing their work at the site in hopes of discovering more artifacts. Any finds, he added, could deepen the understanding of the historical and cultural development of this part of Mesopotamia, long considered a cradle of early urban life.
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