New Assyrian-era inscription uncovered at Mosul's Bab Shams excavation site

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Antiquities and Heritage Authority chief Ali Obaid Shalgam announced the discovery of an inscription belonging to an Assyrian stele at the Bab Shams archaeological site in Mosul. Shalgam said ongoing excavation work by the site's teams had brought the artifact to light, adding that the find reflects Mosul's standing as a historic center. Bab Shams, also known as Bab Shamshi, was one of 17 strategic gates in the walls of Mosul when the city served as a capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. The gate was dedicated to the sun god Shamash and stood on the eastern side of the city, in the area that corresponds to Mosul's present-day left bank. Assyrian capital gates were typically decorated with stone stelae and inscriptions recording royal decrees and rulers' achievements. The site is among historic areas in Mosul that sustained damage in past years and have since been the focus of restoration and preservation efforts.