Kurdistan Region begins excavation of early Islamic city at Khazir River

DUHOK — The Kurdistan Region’s Directorate of Antiquities has launched an archaeological excavation at the Khazir River in the Grdasen sub-district of Akre, Duhok province. The excavation team, which includes local and international archaeologists, has discovered remnants of what is believed to be a city dating back to the early Islamic period.

Kafi Mustafa, director of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage, spoke about the collaboration on the project. “One of the foreign archaeologists from the University of Udine in Italy has joined us in this endeavor. Together with the Directorate of Antiquities in Akre, we aim to reconstruct the ancient city’s layout and understand its historical significance,” Mustafa told 964media.

Bekas Brifkani, director of the Duhok Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage, provided more details about the site, which was initially discovered in 2013. “The site was first discovered in 2013, and what remains so far are primarily walls. The ongoing excavations aim to uncover more artifacts and structures,” Brifkani said. He also noted that the team’s goal is to reconstruct parts of the historical site and explore the connections between this village and other parts of the ancient city.

The Kurdistan Region is recognized for its rich archaeological heritage, hosting some of the world’s most significant sites. These include a range from Paleolithic cave shelters and Neolithic settlements to ancient cities, empires, mosques, bazaars, and other historical landmarks.

Additionally, the region has been a site of major paleontological interest with the 2018 discovery of Shanidar Z, a Neanderthal woman believed to be over 40 years old at the time of her death, buried in a cave 75,000 years ago. Her remains offer a rare insight into the lives of ancient humans who vanished around 40,000 years ago.