Sun Aug 31 06:59:56 UTC 2025: ## Ancient Tombs Unearthed in Drought-Stricken Iraq as Water Levels Plunge
**Duhok, Iraq** – A severe drought gripping Iraq has led to the unexpected discovery of approximately 40 ancient tombs, believed to be over 2,300 years old, near the Mosul Dam reservoir in the northern province of Duhok. The tombs, potentially dating back to the Hellenistic or Hellenistic-Seleucid period, were revealed as water levels in the country’s largest reservoir reached a record low.
“So far, we have discovered approximately 40 tombs,” announced Bekas Brefkany, the director of antiquities in Duhok and lead archaeologist at the site. His team had previously surveyed the area, but the full extent of the archaeological site was only revealed as the water receded to unprecedented levels.
The ongoing drought, plaguing Iraq for five consecutive years, has had a devastating impact on agriculture and electricity production. However, Brefkany notes a silver lining for archaeologists: “The droughts have a significant impact on many aspects… But, for us archaeologists… it allows us to do excavation work.”
The newly discovered tombs are being carefully excavated and prepared for transfer to the Duhok Museum for further study and preservation. The team is racing against time to complete their work before the reservoir is refilled, potentially submerging the site once more.
Iraq is particularly vulnerable to climate change, facing rising temperatures, chronic water shortages, and increasingly severe droughts. Authorities have warned that this year is one of the driest in nearly a century, with water reserves dwindling to a mere 8% of capacity. The situation is further exacerbated by upstream dam construction in neighboring Iran and Turkey, which has significantly reduced the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, vital sources of irrigation for millennia. The discovery of these ancient tombs serves as a stark reminder of Iraq’s rich history, now threatened by the escalating effects of climate change.
First Piper 