University of Udine team maps Nimrud's lower
Researchers from the University of Udine have produced a high-resolution map of Nimrud's 800-acre lower city using satellite imagery, drone surveys, and
A research team from the University of Udine has created a detailed map of the vast lower city surrounding the acropolis of the ancient Assyrian capital Nimrud in northern Iraq. Led by Daniele Morandi Bonacossi and Francesca Simi, the project covered more than 800 acres once enclosed by nearly five miles of defensive walls.
The work, reported by La Brújula Verde, aims to reconstruct the daily lives of the Assyrian Empire's merchants, artisans, and non-elite citizens. The Nimrud Lower Town Archaeological Project combined multiple techniques to build a comprehensive picture of the urban area where most of the city's population lived.
Mapping the Ancient Metropolis
The process began with an analysis of declassified satellite imagery. These images showed that the layout of the lower city, including walls, gates, streets, and residential districts, was remarkably well-preserved. To enhance this data, the team used a differential global positioning system and a drone to generate a precise digital terrain model of the entire site.
A systematic walking survey followed, with researchers collecting and mapping visible pottery fragments scattered across the city's surface. By combining all this information, the team could analyze how settlements were distributed across the site over a vast period, from the third millennium B.C. through the Islamic era.
Geophysical Confirmation
To verify the features suggested by the remote sensing and surface survey, the team conducted a geophysical survey in selected areas of the lower city. This technique confirmed the presence of an extensive urban network. The survey detected streets, distinct neighborhoods, large building complexes, sections of the city walls, and industrial features like kilns and pits.
Future Excavation Plans
The researchers plan to conduct additional geophysical surveys across the ancient city. The ultimate goal is to verify these mapped features through targeted excavations. As stated in the team's original scholarly article in Antiquity, this ground-truthing will provide concrete archaeological evidence to support the digital reconstruction.
The project marks a significant step in understanding the full scale and organization of Nimrud beyond its royal palaces. It shifts focus to the urban fabric that sustained the Assyrian imperial capital for centuries.
