Ancient City Emerges from the Waters: A 3,400-Year-Old Mystery

An ancient city submerged in water in the 1980s has re-emerged as water levels in Mosul drop.

The city, known as 'Kemune', dates back 3,400 years and was considered an empire between 1550-1350 BCE. Archaeologists have discovered remnants of buildings, ceramic artifacts, and even cuneiform writing on 100 clay tablets.

"It's a miracle the writing survived all these years underwater," shared an archaeologist working at the site. "How is it possible they weren't erased by the water?"

A special team of archaeologists was dispatched from Kurdistan and Germany to seize the opportunity before water levels in the reservoir along the Tigris River rise again. "This is a very unique project," explains Prof. Ivana Puljiz, an archaeology professor from the University of Freiburg. "We excavated in freezing temperatures and harsh conditions of snow and storms to make the most of the moment. We didn't know when the water levels would rise again, and we had to work tirelessly."