4500-year-old Sumerian palace uncovered in Iraq’s desert

A British Museum-linked team has uncovered a Sumerian palace in the Iraqi desert dating back to over 4,500 years.

This groundbreaking archaeological discovery at the site of the ancient city of Girsu, historically known as Tello, is poised to shed light on one of the oldest human civilizations and offer new insights into Sumerian life.

The city of Girsu, located in the southern plains of Iraq, was a key city in Sumerian civilization and among the oldest urban settlements. Girsu is renowned for its cultural and historical significance, with recent excavations revealing the grandeur of its luxurious complexes and temples.

Dr. Sebastien Rey, the lead archaeologist at the British Museum and an expert on ancient Mesopotamian civilizations, described Girsu as the “cradle of civilization” and emphasized its global heritage importance.

This discovery was made possible through the Iraq Scheme, a collaborative effort initiated in 2015 by the British Museum, Getty, and the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage.

The initiative was part of a broader effort to preserve cultural heritage sites in Iraq and Syria threatened by destruction due to ISIS activities.

Recent excavations at Girsu have been particularly fruitful, uncovering untouched archaeological layers that remained undisturbed for nearly a century.

Despite previous excavations conducted by the French archaeologist Ernest de Sarzec in the 19th century and the removal of over 100,000 cuneiform tablets, the site still holds undiscovered important artifacts.

The recent discovery of a 4500-year-old Sumerian palace in the Iraqi desert represents a significant milestone in archaeology, offering unprecedented insights into one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

The findings from Girsu not only confirm the advanced nature of Sumerian society but also underscore the importance of international cooperation in preserving and understanding humanity’s shared heritage.

With ongoing excavation efforts, the global community eagerly anticipates further revelations about the remarkable contributions made by the Sumerians to civilization.