Year-long effort
Erbil academics work on book, model to highlight city’s ancient history
ERBIL – A group of university professors, engineers, and academics has been collaborating for over a year on a project in Erbil to produce a comprehensive book on the city’s ancient history and to construct a detailed architectural model of this history. The effort, supported by the Erbil governorate, has the goal of acquainting foreigners with Erbil’s past through both written and visual representations.
Regarded as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan Region. Its history stretches back to at least 2300 BCE.
Shwan Khoshnaw, a professor in the History Department at the College of Arts at Salahaddin University in Erbil, discussed the project’s progress with 964media. “The project sketch is being prepared by professors from Salahaddin University’s departments of history, architecture, and engineering, and it covers nearly 2,500 years of the historical timeline of Erbil and its citadel,” Khoshnaw said.
The Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites. The citadel is situated on a tell, or occupied mound, which has accumulated layers from various periods of human settlement, making it a significant archaeological and historical site in the region and ann ic0nic set piece in Erbil’s architectural landscape.
He emphasized the project’s broader aims: “The project involves writing a documentary book about the vibrant city of Erbil, capturing the most important historical documents and serving as a primary source for recording and understanding the city’s rich history.”
Khoshnaw also highlighted the cultural significance of the undertaking. “We aim to demonstrate through this project that Erbil and its citadel hold a significant place in Kurdish historical heritage,” he stated.
He further noted the composition of the team spearheading this initiative. “The entire project team comprises Kurdish academics and experts,” he explained. Khoshnaw added, “It is anticipated that the book will be completed within the next four months, and the 3D model of the project will be preserved in a special location for visitors to view up close during their visits.”
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