Iraq's 4,000-year-old city of Nippur yields new finds in ongoing excavations

ANBAR, Iraq — Nippur, a 4,000-year-old ancient city in Iraq's Diwaniyah province, is recognized as one of Mesopotamia's oldest religious centers, sacred to the Sumerian, Babylonian and Akkadian civilizations. Located northeast of the Afak district, the site has produced temples, a ziggurat and thousands of clay tablets, including what archaeologists identify as the world's oldest known city map. Diwaniyah's provincial heritage director Besam Jabbar said excavations carried out jointly by the Iraq Heritage Authority and an American archaeological team from the University of Pennsylvania continue to yield new findings each year. Among the city's most prominent structures are the E-kur temple complex dedicated to the god Enlil, the Nippur Ziggurat and a temple of Inanna. Bronze statues, cylinder seals and pottery artifacts have also been recovered. For centuries, Nippur served as a destination for kings, priests and pilgrims from across Mesopotamia. Enheduanna, daughter of Akkadian King Sargon, played a significant role in shaping the city's religious traditions. The site has been placed on UNESCO's World Heritage tentative list but has not yet been added to the final list. Officials said the necessary technical and administrative work is ongoing.