Drought Reveals Ancient Iraqi Necropolis Beneath Reservoir

Al Jazeera reports that a historic drought in northern Iraq has lowered water levels in the country's largest reservoir, unexpectedly revealing parts of a 2,300-year-old ancient cemetery. An archaeological team investigated approximately 40 tombs around the edges of the Mosul Dam Lake near the Tigris River. Researchers were first made aware of the potential site in 2023 when a survey identified a few graves, but it was only during the recent dry spell that they realized how extensive it really was. "The droughts have a significant impact on many aspects, like agriculture and electricity," said Bekas Brefkany, the director of...