Excavations begin at Erbil heritage site

Dr. Nader Babakr Mohammed, Director of Erbil Antiquities and Heritage, told Kurdistan 24 on Sunday that technical teams have begun detailed excavations and archaeological investigations along sections of the 60-meter road project in Erbil’s Baghlumnara neighborhood, situated between the city’s 120-meter and 150-meter ring roads.

The work focuses on an area where the 60-meter road intersects with the 150-meter road. According to Babakr, excavation activities have already started across a designated zone stretching roughly 600 meters.

The project follows the identification of around 14 archaeological sites along the route of the 150-meter road, extending from the Kasnazan road toward the Mosul and Gopal roads. Authorities say comprehensive surveys and investigations must be completed before construction and service projects move forward to ensure the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.

Babakr said the excavation effort is being conducted entirely by local teams under the supervision of the General Directorate of Antiquities and the Erbil Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage. Specialists from Salahaddin University are also participating in the project.

Preliminary examinations of pottery fragments uncovered during the initial phase indicate that the site contains remains dating to the Parthian, Sasanian, and early Islamic eras, spanning roughly from the first century AD to the seventh century AD.

The findings highlight the historical significance of the area surrounding Erbil, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Archaeological discoveries from the Parthian and Sasanian periods have previously provided important insights into the region’s role as a crossroads of trade, culture, and political power between Mesopotamia and Persia.

Babakr said the investigation remains in its early stages and that additional results, along with images of newly uncovered artifacts and structures, will be released once technical procedures are completed in the coming days.

The excavation campaign comes as Erbil continues to expand its road network and urban infrastructure, prompting authorities to intensify efforts to document and preserve archaeological sites before development projects advance.

[Source: Basnews]