New Survey Uncovers Hidden Assyrian Treasures Beneath Khorsabad

The research, conducted in northern Iraq by an international team of archaeologists, used a magnetometer to peer into the ancient past. This device, employed under challenging conditions, identified the city's water gate, five large buildings—including a 127-room villa twice the size of the White House—and what appears to be palace gardens.

An extraordinary magnetic survey of the ancient Assyrian capital of Khorsabad has unveiled remarkable findings: a sprawling villa, royal gardens, and several massive structures buried deep beneath the surface. This discovery challenges long-held beliefs about the extent of development in the 2,700-year-old city.

As revealed by Live Science, the research, conducted in northern Iraq by an international team of archaeologists, used a magnetometer to peer into the ancient past. This device, employed under challenging conditions, identified the city’s water gate, five large buildings—including a 127-room villa twice the size of the White House—and what appears to be palace gardens.

“None of these discoveries required excavation,” said Jörg Fassbinder, a geophysicist at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich and the study’s lead author, during the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2024 Annual Meeting. The team’s findings indicate that Khorsabad may have been a thriving urban center rather than an unfinished project.

The Assyrians are without a doubt one of history’s most influential ancient civilizations, ruling over a vast empire that stretched across the Near East between the 9th and 7th centuries B.C. Known for their military dominance, they revolutionized warfare with innovative siege techniques, including the earliest known use of battering rams, while their engineering achievements—such as aqueducts and a network of roads—helped connect and control their far-reaching territories.

Their capitals, Nineveh and Khorsabad were cultural and artistic epicenters adorned with grand palaces and elaborate carvings that told stories of conquest and daily life. Perhaps most remarkable was their dedication to knowledge, exemplified by the Library of Ashurbanipal, where they preserved texts that have since become key to understanding ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.

The Assyrians shaped the politics and infrastructure of their time and laid foundations that influenced art, governance, and scholarship for centuries to come, leaving a legacy that continues to interest historians and archaeologists today.

The Rise and Fall of Khorsabad

Khorsabad, originally named Dur-Sharrukin (“Fortress of Sargon”), was commissioned in 713 B.C. by Neo-Assyrian emperor Sargon II. However, Sargon’s death in 705 B.C., possibly before the city was fully occupied, led to its abandonment. His son, Sennacherib, relocated the capital to Nineveh, leaving Khorsabad to fade into obscurity for more than 2,000 years.

Live Science explains that the city gained attention in the 19th and early 20th centuries through French and American archaeological missions, which uncovered its grand palace and the iconic “Lamassu” statues—colossal winged bulls with human faces that now reside in the Louvre. However, the city’s layout beyond the palace remained a mystery, leading many to believe it was left incomplete.

In recent history, the site suffered damage during the Islamic State’s occupation in 2015. After the group’s withdrawal in 2017, archaeologists resumed work to preserve and study the site.

Innovative Techniques Shed New Light

Fassbinder’s team took a novel approach during their 2022 survey. Instead of relying on vehicles or drones, which could draw unwanted attention, the researchers manually carried the 15-kilogram magnetometer across the site. Over seven days, they scanned 2.79 million square feet (0.3 square kilometers), covering less than 10% of Khorsabad.

“Every day we discovered something new,” Fassbinder remarked, highlighting the richness of the findings.

The research provides a glimpse into areas of Assyrian life previously unexplored. As historian Sarah Melville noted in an interview with Live Science, traditional studies of Assyrian capitals have focused almost exclusively on royal and monumental structures. This new survey broadens the perspective by uncovering structures that may offer insights into the lives of ordinary residents.

Daniele Morandi Bonacossi, an archaeologist specializing in the Ancient Near East, emphasized the significance of the findings. “This research addresses a major gap in our understanding of Assyrian capitals by revealing urban structures beyond the royal palace,” he said.

The new discoveries paint a picture of Khorsabad as a bustling, developed capital, far beyond previous assumptions. While the findings provide a detailed map of what lies beneath the surface, the question remains whether future excavations will bring these hidden structures to light.