Discovery of the Historic Battle Site of Al-Qadisiyah
Declassified US spy satellite images have led a British-Iraqi archaeological team to identify the site of the historic 7th century Battle of al-Qadisiyah in Iraq. This battle was pivotal in the spread of Islam across the region, occurring in the 730s AD between Arab Muslims and the Persian Sassanid dynasty. The Muslim victory at this battle facilitated their advance into Persia (modern-day Iran).
The archaeological team, comprising members from Durham University in the UK and the University of Al-Qadisiyah in Iraq, made the discovery while conducting a remote sensing survey to map the ancient pilgrimage route known as Darb Zubaydah. Their findings were published in the journal Antiquity, revealing that the site, located approximately 30 kilometers south of Kufa in Najaf province, exhibited features consistent with historical descriptions of the battle site.
Archaeological Significance and Future Excavations
The research team utilized Cold War-era satellite images, which often reveal features obscured or altered in contemporary images. According to William Dedman, an archaeologist at Durham University, the distinctive features of the Qadisiyah site were clearer in the 1970s, including a deep trench, two forts, and an ancient river that Persian troops reportedly crossed on elephants. The team also discovered pottery shards that date back to the time of the battle.
Jaafar al-Juthari, an archaeology professor at al-Qadisiyah University, emphasized the cultural significance of the battle in Iraq's history, particularly during the era of Saddam Hussein, who used the battle's legacy to bolster national pride during the Iran-Iraq War. The battle's interpretation has evolved in the post-Saddam era, reflecting Iraq's complex political and religious landscape.
The archaeological team plans to commence excavation work at the site next year, as part of a broader initiative launched in 2015 to document and preserve endangered archaeological sites in Iraq. This discovery marks a significant moment in the revival of archaeology in Iraq, a region long regarded as the cradle of civilization, which has faced challenges due to decades of conflict and looting of artifacts.
