Hundreds of archaeological artifacts uncovered in Iraq’s Babil after heavy rain

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Nearly 400 archaeological artifacts have been uncovered in Iraq’s Babil province after heavy rainfall exposed ancient remains, a local official said on Wednesday.

Babil province media director Haidar Ibrahim told Rudaw that recent rains washed away layers of soil in the ancient Borsippa site, revealing the artifacts.

He said that on Monday, security forces, under the supervision of the province’s archaeological inspector and in coordination with the Archaeological and Antiquities Police, carried out excavation and recovery operations at the site.

Borsippa, also known as Birs Nimrud, is an ancient Mesopotamian archaeological site located about 15 kilometers southwest of Hillah, the capital of Babil province.

Ibrahim said a total of 380 archaeological items were discovered, including 350 coins, 10 copper coins, and two gold pieces, along with clay and stone pottery, small human and animal figurines, seals, and other historical materials.

He said the discovery highlights the strategic and historical importance of Borsippa in the development of Babil throughout different historical periods.

According to Ibrahim, preliminary examinations by archaeological experts indicate that some of the artifacts date back to the Islamic period, while others belong to the Seleucid period.

Babil Governor Adnan al-Dulaimi announced the discovery during a press conference on Monday.

Babil, known in antiquity as Babylon, was one of the most influential cities of the ancient world and served as the cultural and political center of southern Mesopotamia. Its ruins, located near present-day Hillah, are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Iraqi archaeological sites were subjected to widespread looting and vandalism after 2003, with some of the most severe damage occurring in 2014 when the Islamic State (ISIS) seized large areas of the country, destroying sites and trafficking thousands of artifacts on the global market.

In recent years, Iraqi authorities have intensified efforts to recover and repatriate looted antiquities.