College of Archaeology

Archaeological Excavations in the College of Archaeology

Since its early years, the University of Mosul has paid special attention to antiquities and heritage, setting its priorities accordingly. A museum was established to reflect the reality of Mosul throughout the ages, and later, archaeological excavations in the city and its surrounding areas. The museum selected one of the gates of the city wall of Nineveh, the majestic Assyrian capital, the Adad Gate. This gate was located on the northern side of the wall, and was closest to the University of Mosul buildings.
The excavation mission, headed by Dr. Amer Suleiman in 1968, achieved astonishing scientific results, thanks to the scientific and administrative assistance provided by the University of Mosul Presidency and the support of the College of Medicine, the College of Engineering, and the College of Arts at the time.
The University of Mosul’s participation in the field of archaeological excavations was, in fact, its first scientific and practical contribution to support the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage (formerly the Directorate General of Antiquities). Given the success achieved by the excavation mission at the Adad Gate, our university planned to rebuild this gate according to its initial plans, turning it into a cultural museum of Assyrian weapons and military uniforms. Based on this, the University of Mosul developed its plans and allocated funds for maintenance and restoration work on the stone wall on both sides of the aforementioned gate.

In addition to excavating this gate, and following the successes achieved, the excavation mission conducted its investigation and maintenance study at Tarbisu, Tell al-Sharikhan, in a suburb of Nineveh, the city of the crown prince of the Assyrian king. This success also prompted maintenance work at Bashtabiya Castle in Mosul, overlooking the Tigris River.
A few years later, the University of Mosul mission resumed archaeological work excavating sites located within the major irrigation projects in the Mosul Dam Basin, beginning with Tell Abu Zahir in the Zummar area in 1977, and Tell Halawa in the Hamrin Dam Basin in the Diyala region in 1978. The University of Mosul’s excavation mission resumed work in the Mosul Dam basin in 1982, selecting Tell Masifna, Tell Salal, and Tell Duwaij for its operations. The three sites were located on the banks of the Tigris River in the ancient Zummar region. These excavations yielded scientific findings, which were presented to scholars and researchers in the fields of civilizations and ancient history.

The College of Archaeology at the University of Mosul also conducted archaeological excavations at Tell Quinjiq in the city of Nineveh. The mission uncovered sections of the palace of King Ashurbanipal.
The College of Archaeology is currently working diligently to complete the museum building, allowing its students and researchers to view illustrative aspects of the art of Mesopotamia. The college is receiving support from the University of Mosul presidency and the generous assistance of its members. The college’s library, its journal (Antiquities of Mesopotamia), and the museum, as well as the excavations that our college seeks to achieve, all aim to achieve the scientific unity that this college seeks, in order to pursue and deepen archaeological studies.