The German archaeological mission, led by Dr. Margret van Es, has concluded its activities in the historic city of Uruk (modern-day Warka in Iraq) during the spring 2025 season. The work has focused on conducting a thorough survey of the ancient city’s surroundings as part of the contract established with the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage.
Additionally, the researchers carried out a geophysical study that included geomagnetic mapping on the outskirts of the city and electrical resistance tomography of the soil, techniques that provide valuable information about the composition and structure of the subsoil.
A team of geomorphology experts also participated in collecting soil samples to prepare an analysis of the so-called “thin sections.” This analysis focuses on studying sediments in areas believed to have been ancient riverbeds or irrigation canals around the city.
To determine the age of these watercourses and canals, the technique of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) was used, which requires keeping the samples away from light. This method is based on the last time the samples were exposed to light, allowing scientists to estimate their age.
To optimize effort and the number of samples, a specialized device was used in the archaeological site’s laboratory to identify which samples were the oldest, although without determining an exact age. These samples will be analyzed more precisely in specialized laboratories in Europe.
Meanwhile, the Inspector of Antiquities and Heritage for the province of Al-Muthanna, Sulwan Al-Ahmar, announced the arrival of the first batch of informational panels for the site, which have been printed using modern techniques adapted to the local climate conditions.
Al-Ahmar also highlighted the most significant archaeological findings from this season’s work, which included the discovery of a large number of settlements around the ancient city. Among these, areas used as industrial workshops for the production of ceramics and bricks, as well as for various stone and metal industries, were identified.
Additionally, numerous irrigation canals that supplied the city and nearby fields were found. These canals date back to different historical periods and connected the city to the Euphrates River. Settlements from the Jemdet Nasr period were also revealed on the outskirts of Uruk, including areas designated for industrial workshops.
Uruk, located in southern Iraq on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, was the largest city in the world at the beginning of the third millennium BCE. According to the chronology presented in the Sumerian King List, Gilgamesh, the protagonist of the world’s oldest literary work, the Epic of Gilgamesh, is said to have lived there and built the Eanna temple and the city walls.
The work of the German mission represents a significant step toward preserving Iraq’s rich historical heritage, contributing to the understanding of the ancient civilizations that once inhabited these lands.
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