Sumer
Ancient Mesopotamian civilization from 5500 to 1800 BC
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We include updates on Epic of Gilgamesh, Tower of Babel, Ur, Ziggurat, Snow Crash, Ziggurat of Ur, Third Dynasty of Ur, Lamassu, Eridu, Royal Game of Ur, Dilmun, Uruk period, Abzu, Architecture of Mesopotamia, Nippur, Shinar ... and more.
| 2024 |
Girsu
During the archaeological season, 200 cuneiform tablets (including school texts) and 60 clay sealings from the Akkadian empire period are discovered. One sealing includes an inscription mentioning Naram-Sin, the king of Akkad, and Lugal-ushumgal, a scribe and governor.
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| 2023 |
Dilbat
A magnetic gradiometry survey was conducted in the northwestern section of Tell al-Deylam. Ten inscribed bricks of Kassite dynasty kings Kurigalzu I or Kurigalzu II were found in situ.
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| 2023 |
Girsu
British Museum experts suggest a Hellenistic shrine at Girsu might have been founded by Alexander the Great, built atop the ruins of E-ninnu, potentially honoring Zeus and his divine sons Heracles and Alexander.
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| 2023 |
Tower of Babel
Video game 'Chants of Sennaar' was released, largely inspired by the Tower of Babel narrative.
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| February 2023 |
Girsu
Archaeologists from the British Museum and Getty Museum reveal the remains of the 4,500-year-old Sumerian Lord Palace of the Kings and over 200 cuneiform tablets with administrative records. The E-ninnu temple (Temple of the White Thunderbird) is also identified.
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| 2022 |
Larsa
Archaeological work continued at Larsa with another one-month season, including geophysical surveys of the 10-20 meter wide rampart wall with six main gates. 59 cuneiform tablets, fragments, and envelopes from the time of Gungunum and Abisare were discovered in a destroyed level of the Grand Viziers residence.
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| 2021 |
Larsa
Excavations continued at Larsa with a one-month season, tracing a large system of internal canals and a port area linked to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers from Old Babylonian times.
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| 2020 |
Lamassu
Michael Rakowitz's Lamassu sculpture concluded its display in London's Trafalgar Square.
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| 2020 |
Umma
Continued excavation and research at Tell Jokha, with further examination of cuneiform tablets from multiple historical periods.
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| March 2020 |
Girsu
Archaeologists announce the discovery of a 5,000-year-old cultic area containing over 300 broken ceremonial ceramic cups, bowls, jars, animal sacrifices, and ritual processions dedicated to Ningirsu. A duck-shaped bronze figurine with bark eyes, potentially dedicated to Nanshe, is also found.
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| March 2020 |
Early Dynastic Period
Archaeologists announced the discovery of a 5,000-year-old cultic area at the site of Girsu, revealing over 300 broken ceremonial ceramic artifacts, including a unique duck-shaped bronze figurine with bark eyes dedicated to Nanshe, providing significant insights into early Mesopotamian ritual practices.
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| 2019 |
Adab
Conclusion of the Qadis survey, which discovered a previously unknown palace and determined the city's urban layout and hydraulic landscape.
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| 2019 |
Umma
Excavation of Trench 2 resulted in the discovery of eighteen cuneiform tablets from various historical periods, including three found in situ.
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| 2019 |
Larsa
Archaeological excavations at Larsa resumed, beginning with a topographic survey by drone and surface survey to refine previous mapping. The first season focused on a large Hellenistic period construction north of the E-Babbar temple.
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| September 2019 |
Girsu
During the 5th archaeological season, work concentrates on the Mound of the Palace where E-ninnu temple had been previously discovered.
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| 2018 |
Dilbat
The second season of excavations was led by Haider Almamor, focusing on the eastern mound and uncovering a Kassite period temple dedicated to the city god, featuring inner and outer walls and multiple gates.
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| 2018 |
Lamassu
Michael Rakowitz's recreated Lamassu sculpture was displayed in London's Trafalgar Square as part of a Fourth Plinth commission.
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| 2017 |
Dilbat
Archaeological excavations by the University of Babylon's Department of Archaeology began, with the first season led by Maryam Omran.
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| 2017 |
Tower of Babel
Comic book 'La tour de Bab-El-Oued' from Sfar's The Rabbi's Cat series referenced the Tower of Babel in a context of intercultural conflict and cooperation.
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| 2017 |
Umma
Archaeological team opened Trench 2 at the top of Tell Jokha, discovering Early Dynastic construction amid numerous looter holes.
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| 2016 |
Girsu
Archaeological excavations at Telloh resume as part of a training program for Iraqi archaeologists, organized by the British Museum.
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| 2016 |
Adab
University of Bologna and Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage began the Qadis survey, conducting coordinated remote sensing and surface surveys at Bismaya.
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| 2016 |
Umma
Slovak Archaeological and Historical Institute team led by Drahoslav Hulínek began excavations at Tell Jokha, focusing on the Temple of Shara and identifying two temple construction phases.
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| 2015 |
Lamassu
ISIS destroyed the original Lamassu statue that had stood in Nineveh, Iraq, since 700 BC.
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| 2012 |
Adab
The Oriental Institute re-examined Banks' records and objects, producing a 're-excavation' report.
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This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles Tower of Babel, Larsa, Umma, Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia), Adab (city), Girsu, Lamassu & Dilbat, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.