ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Italian archaeology team has unearthed the 6,000-year-old site Ali Mawlan mound south of Erbil in partnership with the city’s Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage. “Ali Mawlan mound is an ancient archaeological site dating back to before 3500 B.C., holding many valuable historical artifacts. It stands as a source of pride for the capital of Kurdistan, a city rich in heritage and history,” said Dr. Nader Babekr, director of Erbil Antiquities. The team has excavated three different areas of the mound, uncovering architectural remains, stone and pottery fragments, and human bones. "Here we find a large Chalcolithic period structure, which consists of several stepped platforms. On the other hand, we have a long trench with steps that extends down the slope of the mound, with various pits dug into it,” Guido Guarducci, co-director of the Center for Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (CAMNES), told Rudaw on Thursday. “We also found decorated pottery, which is very interesting,” he added. The Kurdistan Region has a rich archaeological history. “Kurds are more connected to their past, to their origins and their land. Therefore, they have this strong connection with the land,” said Stefano Valentini, head of the excavation team and CAMNES co-director. Valentini has 32 years of experience in archaeology and searching for ancient human remains in Syria, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. A Kurdish-American archaeological team uncovered a prehistoric settlement southeast of Erbil in July, preserved for thousands of years by an ancient earthquake. The site, located in the Shamamok plains near Girdi Matrab, 40 kilometers southeast of Erbil, covers an area of about three hectares across four mounds. Erbil itself is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with human settlement dating back to 6000 BCE. Its UNESCO-listed citadel has millenia of layered habitation.
