Overview

• About 40 graves emerged on the exposed banks of the Mosul Dam reservoir near Khanke in Duhok province, officials said.
• The burials likely date to the Hellenistic–Seleucid era more than 2,300 years ago, according to site director Bekas Brefkany.
• Researchers surveyed the spot in 2023 but could excavate only after this year’s reservoir drop to its lowest levels.
• The Duhok team is excavating now to relocate remains and artifacts to the Duhok Museum before waters return.
• The exposure follows five years of drought that left Iraq’s reserves near 8% of capacity, with authorities also citing upstream dams in Iran and Turkey for reduced river flows.