Forty 2,300-year-old tombs were uncovered at the edge of Mosul Dam in the Khanke region of Duhok after reservoir water levels fell dramatically. Bekas Brefkany, director of antiquities in Duhok and leader of the excavation, identified the site during surveys of newly exposed shorelines and recognised its importance through pottery fragments. Initial work stalled in 2023 because of limited funding and rising waters. This year, with the governor of Duhok's support and the dam at its lowest level, archaeologists resumed excavations and revealed a large cemetery containing numerous oval-shaped ceramic graves aligned uniformly with distinct upper and lower parts.
While the receding waters have had negative impacts, for us as archaeologists, they have also provided an opportunity to rediscover areas that had long been hidden underwater.
After collecting and analysing pottery fragments, I realised the site held significant importance,
We discovered important remains, including a cemetery near the site first identified in 2023. Several ceramic coffins, partly visible above ground, immediately caught my attention and motivated me to investigate further.
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