Excavations of the fortress on the hill of Tel Khyber (highlighted in red frame)
facebook / tellkhaiber
A joint British-Iraqi archaeological expedition discovered a vast fortress built by the dynasty of the kings of the Primorye, or Sea Country, who ruled in the second millennium BC in southern Mesopotamia. Until now, rebellious kings have been known only from brief reports in ancient sources, but no material evidence of their existence could be found. A report by Ur Region Archeology Project expedition member Mary Shepperson about the discovery was published by The Guardian.
The Ur Region Archeology Project expedition operates in the southern governorate (province) of Dhi Qar in the vicinity of the modern city of Nasiriyah. Archaeologists have been exploring the vast Tell Khaiber hill since 2013; their attention was drawn to the ruins of a vast building at the top of the hill. Excavations have shown that the area of the building is huge - 4400 square meters, it dominates a small settlement and is surrounded by a wall of mud bricks. The thickness of the walls reaches 3.5 meters, there is only one gate in this wall and they are narrow, and watchtowers are placed along the perimeter.
This type of fortified citadel is not typical of Bronze Age Mesopotamia, and walls with closely spaced towers have no analogues at all. Behind the walls in a large building, living quarters, warehouses, kitchens, halls, an administrative wing, and workshops were identified. Such multifunctionality is unusual for the palace and temple complexes of Mesopotamia. Archaeologists concluded that the fortress was protected within its walls by the surrounding population, who left the unprotected "posad" in case of danger.
In the building, archaeologists managed to find an archive - about 150 cuneiform tablets written in Akkadian. From them it became clear that the fortress belonged to the rebellious dynasty of the kings of Primorye, or the Sea Country. These rulers in the 18th century BC rebelled against Samsu-iluna, the son and successor of King Hammurabi. The kings of Primorye separated from the lands of Samsu-iluna the southernmost part of Mesopotamia - a swampy region in the lower reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates - and ruled this region until the middle of the 15th century BC.
The names of the rulers and some details of their military campaigns were known from the Babylonian king lists and a small number of other written sources. In particular, in 2009, for the first time, tablets relating to the reign of the kings of Primorye from the private collection of the Norwegian collector Martin Schøyen were published, shedding light on some episodes of the reign of the kings of Peshgaldaramesh and Ayadaragalama. Several tablets found in Tel Khyber date back to the reign of Adara-Kalamma (the turn of the 16th and 15th centuries BC).
The Tel-Khyber archive contains materials on the economic activities of the fortress, its connections with the nearby ancient Sumerian city of Ur. Educational tablets have been found, according to which scribes who knew the Akkadian language mastered the Sumerian language, which had long been out of use. Some dynastic names of the kings of Primorye are also Sumerian, which is unusual and possibly indicates the persistence of “the confrontation between the former Sumerian south and the Akkadian north of Lower Mesopotamia” (see: History of the Ancient East, edited by I.M. Dyakonov. M .: "Science", 1983).
The lands of the seaside separatist kings were conquered in the 15th century BC by the Kassite kings Kashtiliash III and Ulam-Buriash. After this war, southern Mesopotamia no longer fought against rulers from the north.
In Mesopotamia, sometimes come across a variety of finds. For example, one of the artifacts found there in the 30s of the last century was considered a toy for a long time, and only recently that it is actually a weapon, and not an “oldest spinner”.
Julia ShtutinaExcavations are being carried out on the banks of the river
On the territory of modern Iraq, archaeologists have found a city that was allegedly founded by Alexander the Great himself.
The ancient ruins were noticed after studying declassified spy videos from the 1960s, writes Science Alert.
First, a team of experts from the British Museum discovered the outline of a large rectangular building hidden under fields of wheat and barley crops. "Where there are walls underground, wheat and barley don't grow as well, so there are color differences in plant growth," said archaeologist John McGinnis of the British Museum.
The city, which was discovered by British archaeologists, was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. He lived here for some time with veterans of his military campaigns. Apparently, the city was called Kalatga Darband, which translates roughly as "castle on a mountain pass." The city was on the route followed by Alexander with his army to attack the king of Persia, Darius III.
"This is just the beginning of the work, but we think it was a bustling city on the road from Iraq to Iran. You can imagine the wine merchants who supply the soldiers," - said John McGinnis.
Archaeologists have already found the foundations of a number of large buildings, including fortified walls. A stone press was also found, which could be used in winemaking or oil production. Fragments of tiles and statues of Persephone and Adonis, the heroes of Greek myths, were also found. The exact dating of the finds has not yet been established.
Excavations are expected to continue until 2020, so there's a good chance we'll learn a lot more about this lost city.
Previously HB reported that scientists The age of the unusual grave is estimated at about four thousand years.
The mythical city of Qalatga Darband has been lost for more than 2,000 years. And it was possible to find it thanks to spy shots taken by the CIA in the 1960s. Studying them, a group of Iraqi and British archaeologists noticed the remains of ancient walls in one of the Iraqi settlements.
According to scientists, this city in the I and II centuries BC. was located 10 kilometers southeast of Rania in the province of Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan. It is believed that Alexander the Great founded the city in 331 BC, and then lived there with his subjects, who numbered about three thousand. Qalatga Darband, translated from Kurdish, sounds like "Castle of the mountain pass."
It is located on the route of Alexander the Great's campaign against the Persian king Darius III.
Now excavations are carried out by a group of researchers from the UK. They have already managed to establish that the city was built by Alexander the Great himself. After processing drone photos, archaeologists were able to identify a large municipal building hidden under wheat fields.
John McGuinness (leader of the group) believes that the city came under significant Greek and Roman influence during the first and second centuries BC. Several statues have already been brought to the surface.
Chechen authorities found over 40 more Russians in Iraq
13 women and 28 children from Dagestan, Chechnya and other regions of Russia were found in an Iraqi refugee camp, the authorities of the republic reported today.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 14, the representative of the Chechen parliament in the Federation Council, Ziyad Sabsabi, announced that 93 Russian citizens had been returned from the Middle East, and more than 150 people are planned to be taken out of Syria and Iraq in the near future.
The Chechen authorities use the return of women and children from Syria and Iraq for propaganda purposes, residents of Chechnya believe.
A group of 41 Russian citizens was found in a refugee camp in Iraq, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told today staff member heads and governments of Chechnya.
"These are 13 women and 28 children. The representative of the head of Chechnya in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, Senator Ziyad Sabsabi, who is now in Iraq, informed the leadership of the republic about this," he said.
Most of these women are natives of Dagestan, said a representative of the Chechen authorities. "Also among them is one resident of Chechnya and natives of the Moscow and Bryansk regions with children," he said.
Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov on his Instagram page today confirmed this information. Among the children found is a three-year-old cousin of girls from Dagestan who were previously brought home, her parents died "under American bombs in Mosul," he said. Ramzan Kadyrov .
It should be noted that information about the number of women and children who returned from Syria and Iraq comes only from the authorities of Chechnya, the "Caucasian Knot" does not have confirmation of this information.
Chechen women brought from Syria reported that they were able to return to Russia after agreeing to criminal prosecution. Thus, the Chechen women who returned to Grozny on November 13 were questioned by law enforcement officers, after which they were released, the Chechen authorities claim. The "Caucasian Knot" has no confirmation of the information that these women were actually released, were not subjected to persecution and were not restricted in their rights. Nothing is known about their fate, while the Chechen authorities report that they are helping in the rehabilitation of children returned from Syria.
Some of the women, upon their return, were detained and taken into custody in Dagestan. Thus, Zagidat Abakarova and Muslimat Kurbanova were taken into custody on October 24 in Makhachkala, despite the fact that both women have babies. In their case, there are petitions from three deputies of the People's Assembly, who asked the prosecutor to consider the surrender of Abakarova and Kurbanova and "make a legal decision," their lawyer said.
IS stronghold in Iraq
The Islamic State took over Mosul in the summer of 2014. The jihadists occupied the second largest city in the country with little or no resistance. Since then, it has become the capital of the IS, from where the militants advanced into new territories. This city in northern Iraq has become a symbol of the brutality of the "Islamic state" and the fight against terrorists. The active phase of the liberation of Mosul began in October 2016.
Who liberates Mosul?
The main strike force for the liberation of Mosul was the Iraqi army, led by special forces - the most combat-ready and experienced Iraqi military. However, its forces are not enough to fight thousands of ISIS jihadists. The Iraqi army is assisted in the operation by Kurdish formations, Sunni tribal militias and a so-called international coalition led by the United States, which is carrying out air strikes.
Battle of Mosul: IS' last stand in Iraq?
Mass executions of IS opponents
During the liberation of Mosul, mass graves of local residents who were killed by terrorists were found in its suburbs. Earlier, the UN repeatedly reported on numerous executions in Mosul. For example, 600 inmates of the local prison were killed. The victims were also those who refused to fight on the side of ISIS, adhere to the laws of the caliphate, or simply tried to escape from the city.
Battle of Mosul: IS' last stand in Iraq?
Famine in Mosul
During the active phase of the operation to liberate Mosul, famine began in the city. ISIS terrorists took away food from the inhabitants. Many of the refugees are in critical condition due to malnutrition, according to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The photo shows the distribution of humanitarian aid from the ICRC to the residents of Mosul.
Battle of Mosul: IS' last stand in Iraq?
IS may have used chemical weapons in Mosul
In an attempt to stop the offensive on Mosul, IS fighters, according to US authorities, could use chemical weapons with elements of mustard gas and mustard gas. In early March, about ten patients were admitted to local hospitals with symptoms of chemical exposure. Representatives of the Red Cross are "deeply alarmed" by these facts.
Battle of Mosul: IS' last stand in Iraq?
The UN risks not coping with the flow of refugees
As Mosul was liberated, some of its inhabitants were able to flee. Up to 50,000 people leave the city every day. UN officials said they fear not being able to cope with the flow of refugees. Before the takeover by ISIS, nearly 1.5 million people lived in Mosul. Now, according to various estimates, about 750 thousand inhabitants remain in it. How many people died during this time remains to be established.
Battle of Mosul: IS' last stand in Iraq?
Network of underground tunnels
During the siege, the militants use guerrilla warfare methods: they dug a whole network of tunnels under the city and from there attack Iraqi soldiers, including using suicide bombers. Earlier there were also reports of "human shield" tactics by jihadists, according to which, during the fighting, terrorists from the "Islamic State" were covered by the civilians of Mosul.
Battle of Mosul: IS' last stand in Iraq?
Where will the IS fighters go?
After the defeat in Mosul, the militants will have practically no strongholds left. The only major city still under their control is Raqqa in Syria. There, the "Islamic state" is likely to give the last battle. Experts are sure that its outcome is a foregone conclusion, since serious forces of several large states are involved in the fight against IS.
