A newly performed magnetic survey has unveiled a number of beforehand unknown buildings on the historic Assyrian capital of Khorsabad in northern Iraq, in accordance with experiences. The location, courting again 2,700 years, was initially established as Dur-Sharrukin, or “Fortress of Sargon,” by Neo-Assyrian Emperor Sargon II in 713 B.C. The discoveries embody a sprawling villa with 127 rooms, royal gardens, and a water gate, difficult earlier assumptions that the town was left largely incomplete earlier than its abandonment within the eighth century B.C.
Particulars of the Survey and Findings
The findings, introduced by Jörg Fassbinder, a geophysicist at Ludwig-Maximilians-College in Munich, throughout the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2024 Annual Assembly, have been obtained with out excavation. A magnetometer was operated by hand over 0.three sq. kilometres of the location, revealing buildings far past the beforehand excavated palace complicated. The villa, described as being twice the dimensions of the White Home, and different options recommend a stage of improvement beforehand unrecognised in Khorsabad.
Sarah Melville, a historian of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, commented in an electronic mail to Reside Science that the non-invasive mapping approach offered precious insights whereas preserving the integrity of the location. Melville’s observations spotlight the significance of utilizing superior instruments to realize a extra complete understanding of historic capitals like Khorsabad.
Historic Context and Preservation Challenges
Sargon II’s demise in 705 B.C. resulted within the capital being deserted as his successor, Sennacherib, shifted focus to Nineveh. Whereas 19th- and early 20th-century excavations uncovered elements of the palace and iconic statues just like the Lamassu, important parts of the town remained unexplored. The location additionally suffered harm throughout looting by the Islamic State in 2015, with archaeological work resuming solely after 2017.
Consultants, akin to Daniele Morandi Bonacossi of the College of Udine, of their assertion have famous that this analysis fills vital gaps by exploring non-monumental structure and concrete buildings, offering proof of a thriving neighborhood. The way forward for the newly recognized buildings stays unsure, as additional excavation selections are awaited.
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