Archaeological excavations in Iraq continue despite security chaos
In spite of the precarious situation in Iraq, a series of excavations is still uncovering the buried historical ruins in Iraq, where the ruins of Ur are only a sample of the landmarks that are yet to be unveiled.
NASIRIYAH, Iraq — At the beginning of February, a British archaeological excavation mission unveiled at the ruins of Ur a large trade center that is the oldest in the world, going back to the Old Babylonian period (2006-1595 BCE). Ur is a historical site in Sumer city mentioned in the Old Testament and located in Dhi Qar province, 375 kilometers (233 miles) south of Baghdad.
This discovery confirmed the exceptional importance of the ruins of Ur, which are still unexplored. Despite the poor security situation in Iraq, archaeological excavation has been accelerating in recent years, in search of ruins still buried in this area.
In early March 2013, a British excavation mission discovered the remains of a massive ancient temple by using satellite imagery.
Given the historical importance of Ur, Al-Monitor contacted journalist Alaa al-Kouli, who lives near the ruins of Ur and accompanies researchers and foreigners on their visits there. He proposed a field tour to visit the place of the famous Ziggurat, where the moon god Nanna was worshipped.
