Southern Iraq: Tell Khaiber

Civilization began in southern Iraq five thousand years ago. It is the land of great cities such as Ur and Babylon, home to the enterprising Sumerians, who invented writing and urban living, and later to the Babylonians, whose trading and military skills forged a mighty empire. Priceless information about mankind’s past still lies concealed beneath the landscape in the ‘tells’ – earth mounds – that are the remains of ancient towns, villages and farmsteads.
Iraq has a proud tradition of valuing and researching this unique heritage, but war has taken its toll, and the image of the country’s ancient heritage has sadly become associated with looting and destruction. Local experts have been working in isolation, struggling to stop pillaging, with little opportunity to benefit from interaction with the global community. But now it is at last possible to return, to put together the best of Iraqi and international expertise, and to start a new age of discovery, using new techniques to unveil and interpret our shared heritage, and new media to make our discoveries accessible to all.
By initiating a new, exciting and sustainable archaeological project in southern Iraq we seek to:

• Enhance the profile of Iraq’s incomparable heritage, at home and abroad;
• Encourage and support a new generation of Iraqi archaeologists;
• Rekindle a sense of pride in a history shared by all Iraqis;
• Show that southern Iraq is once again a good place to work;
• Contribute to sustainable tourism.

 

Tell Khaiber

The focus of the Ur Region Archaeology Project is Tell Khaiber, lying just 20 km from the ancient city of Ur, near Nasiriyah, in Thi Qar province. Visiting the site in January 2012, it was clear that the archaeological remains are intact and have not been disturbed by looters. Tell Khaiber is also located in an area where it is safe to work, close enough to Nasiriyah to facilitate full collaboration with the young and dedicated staff of the local Antiquities Department.
From the pottery collected on the surface, we can say that people lived at Tell Khaiber for over two thousand years, from about 4,000 to 2000BC. The town enjoyed such a long period of prosperity perhaps due to its location on what was the westernmost branch of the Euphrates River. Satellite images show the presence of large public buildings on the two main mounds of the settlement, perhaps palaces or the administrative buildings of the town. Their presence confirms the importance of Tell Khaiber in antiquity.
Each year a team of international and Iraqi archaeologists, numbering between ten and sixteen, will spend three months excavating at Tell Khaiber, supported by local workmen. The international team will include specialists in areas such as animal bone and plant remains, as well as conservators and, if we find ancient written materials, language experts. Work on analysis and publication will continue throughout the year at the project’s academic base in the University of Manchester.