3,400-year-old city emerges from reservoir in Iraq after months of extreme drought

Earlier this year, the remains of a 3,400-year-old city emerged from a reservoir in Iraq after months of extreme drought.

German and Kurdish archaeologists uncovered the ancient settlement from the Mittani Empire when water levels fell rapidly. It was once located on the banks of the Tigris River and is believed to have been the city of Zakhiku, an important centre for the Mittani Empire which lasted from around 1550 to 1350 BC.

Researchers were shocked to discover well-preserved walls made from sun-dried mud bricks. Some had been underwater for 40 years since the Mosul Dam was built and the reservoir created.

They attribute this surprising preservation to an earthquake that destroyed the city in 1350 BC when the upper parts of the walls collapsed, burying the buildings completely.

Iraq has been severely impacted by climate change. Average temperatures have risen by nearly 1℃ over the last century.

Extreme heat has seen the south of the country, in particular, suffer from months of drought. A lack of rainfall and poor resource management has left communities in the region struggling for water.

The Mosul Dam reservoir, in the Kurdistan region, is the country’s most important water storage location. Earlier this year, authorities drained part of it to prevent crops from drying out, causing levels to drop dramatically.

From below the surface, the Bronze Age city emerged.

Archaeologists from the University of Freiburg and University of Tübingen in Germany and the Kurdistan Archaeology Organisation were under heavy pressure to document and excavate not knowing when it might be resubmerged.

When drought also caused the city to emerge from the waters back in 2018, an ancient palace was extensively documented - but there was still much