Lost City of Alexander Found in Iraq’s Ruins
Why this is here: The city’s remarkably large building blocks—measuring 156 by 78 meters—suggest a scale of urban planning previously unknown in this region, challenging existing assumptions about ancient settlements.
Archaeologists believe the ruins of an ancient city founded by Alexander the Great, known as Charax Spasinou, lie buried in the Iraqi desert and could reshape our understanding of antiquity. The site, located north of Basra, presents significant challenges for excavation due to oil extraction, potential landmines from the Iran-Iraq War, and unusually dense soil.
Despite these obstacles, preliminary surveys reveal Charax Spasinou once spanned almost seven square kilometers and featured large residential blocks, a harbor, and temples. The city flourished as a crucial trading hub between India and China before being abandoned due to shifting coastlines and riverbeds.
Research is currently stalled due to funding rejections and political instability in the region, threatening the potential to uncover details about the little-understood Arsakiden Empire, which existed between Alexander the Great and the rise of Islam. The lead archaeologist fears the site may remain unexplored as his retirement nears and university support wanes.