A British archaeologist says he and his colleagues have unearthed a huge, rare complex near the ancient city of Ur in southern Iraq, home of the biblical Abraham.
Believed to be administrative centre for Ur
The Associated Press ·
Excavation is underway Tell Khaiber, Iraq, to uncover a huge, rare complex near the ancient city of Ur in southern Iraq, home of the biblical Abraham. (Stuart Campbell/Associated Press)
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A British archaeologist says he and his colleagues have unearthed a huge, rare complex near the ancient city of Ur in southern Iraq, home of the biblical Abraham.
A clay plaque showing a worshipper approaching a sacred place is among the artifacts discovered ruing the excavation. (Stuart Campbell/Associated Press)
Stuart Campbell of Manchester University's Archaeology Department says it goes back about 4,000 years, around the time Abraham would have lived there. It's believed to be an administrative centre for Ur.
Campbell said Thursday it's roughly the size of a football pitch — about 80 metres on each side. He says complexes of this size and age are rare.
He says one of the finds is a plaque of a worshipper wearing a flowing robe and approaching a sacred site.
It's the first British archaeological dig in southern Iraq since the 80s. It's possible because parts of Iraq are now relatively stable.
The complex is about 80 metres by 80 metres and goes back about 4,000 years. (Stuart Campbell/Associated Press)
