Spanish archaeological team unearths ancient bronze age city in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – A Spanish archaeological team has discovered an ancient city in Erbil Province, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), believed to date back to the Bronze Age.

“It is a small site. It is not very big,” said Miquel Molist, a professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, in an interview with Rudaw.

The objects found at the site “correspond to the first city in northern Mesopotamia,” Molist explained.

Since 2016, the Autonomous University of Barcelona has collaborated with Kurdish academics to excavate the Gird Lashkar city in eastern Erbil. Molist, who has visited the Kurdistan Region many times over the past decade, emphasized the cultural, political, and historical significance of uncovering the Gird Lashkar site.

This year, the team discovered houses constructed from mud.

Amir Karim, a Kurdish archaeologist, elaborated on their findings: “One of the artifacts we found was the remains of construction material. We also found sculptures and knives made from stones. After we found these things, we excavated the place scientifically.”

Their excavations have revealed that Gird Lashkar was a populated city and a significant trade center between 3500–2000 BC. Artifacts such as construction materials, valuable stones, and tarmac were uncovered at the site, offering new insights into the region’s ancient history.