French and Iraqi archaeologists are examining the remains of a bridge dating back approximately 3,800 years, discovered on the site of the ancient city of Larsa in southern Iraq. The structure was built across a large water canal during the Old Babylonian period and attests to the high level of engineering technology in ancient Mesopotamia, according to Arkeonews, citing Iraq’s State Board of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage.
The research is being conducted by a joint French-Iraqi archaeological expedition led by Régis Vallée. The site is located in the Dhi Qar province within the ancient city of Larsa, also known by its modern name, Tell es-Senkere.
The bridge spanned the Great Canal, which was about 22 meters wide and ran through the central part of the city. The structure connected the two banks of the waterway and provided a transportation link between the city’s districts.
During the excavations, archaeologists discovered massive supports made of fired brick, as well as a brick bearing an inscription containing the name of the ruler of Larsa, Sin-iddinam, who reigned approximately from 1849 to 1843 BCE.
The discovery links one of the phases of the bridge’s construction or reconstruction to the reign of Sin-iddinam. This ruler is known for large-scale projects involving the construction and restoration of temples, city walls, and irrigation canals.
Researchers have determined that the bridge was built and rebuilt in several phases. This indicates the structure’s long-term use and changes in the city’s infrastructure in response to the economic needs of the population.
French archaeologists initially identified the remains of the bridge in 2019, and direct excavations of its piers began in 2021. Thus, this report concerns new findings from ongoing research, rather than the discovery of a previously unknown site.
According to Iraqi authorities, archaeologists have so far uncovered approximately half of the structure. Further work should help clarify its design, dimensions, and operational characteristics.
Ancient Larsa was one of the largest economic centers of Mesopotamia
At the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE, Larsa was an important political, commercial, and religious center of Southern Mesopotamia. The city covered an area of approximately 200 hectares, and its defensive walls stretched for about 5.4 kilometers.
A well-developed system of water canals provided irrigation for agricultural land, facilitated the transport of goods, and ensured communication with neighboring settlements.
Since 2019, archaeologists have identified hundreds of canals, several water basins, and the remains of port infrastructure in and around the city. The bridge across the Great Canal is considered one of the key elements of this transportation system.
In addition to the bridge, an international expedition is studying the city gates, monumental buildings, and residential complexes of the local elite.
In particular, near the Ebabbar Temple, dedicated to the sun god Shamash, researchers are studying an architectural complex covering an area of approximately 7,250 square meters. It is believed that this complex may have served as a temple residence for priestesses, though the final identification of the structure has not yet been completed.
In another area, archaeologists discovered the remains of a large residence containing archival clay tablets linked to a high-ranking official named Etellum.
According to researchers, further study of the finds will provide new insights into the organization of trade, urban administration, religious life, and water management in ancient Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamia is considered one of the oldest centers of world civilization. The first major cities emerged in what is now Iraq, where writing, state institutions, irrigation systems, and organized international trade developed.
Source: Arkeonews, published on November 12, 2026, citing the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage.
In the framework of international cooperation and cultural exchange, representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ukraine visited the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Kyiv. The main purpose of the visit was the ceremony of handing over digital copies of the Kamianets-Podilskyi Armenian Voytov Court record books written in the Armenian-Kipchak language.
The ceremony was attended by counselors of the Embassy Alibek Alibekov, Yevgeniy Katrenov and Daniyar Satybaldin, director of the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine Yaroslav Fayzulin, as well as archive staff and representatives of Kazakh business.
These unique historical documents are of great importance for the cultural heritage and history of both Ukraine and Kazakhstan. They testify to the rich cultural and historical ties between the peoples who lived on the territory of modern Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
The representatives expressed special gratitude to Kazakh businessman and philanthropist Aidyn Rakhimbayev, who made it possible to obtain these historical documents. Aidyn Rakhimbayev is known for his numerous charitable projects and support of cultural initiatives. In gratitude for his cooperation, five modern computers were donated to the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine on behalf of Mr. Rakhimbayev.
This gesture contributes to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as supports the preservation of historical heritage and the development of cultural ties.
Ancient Kipchak books are handwritten documents created in the Middle Ages, when the Kipchaks (Polovtsians) were one of the most powerful nomadic peoples in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. These books contain valuable historical, legal, and literary texts that reflect the social life, traditions, and legal systems of the time.
The Armenian-Kipchak language is considered to be a unique historical and linguistic phenomenon that arose as a result of the long coexistence of Armenian and Kipchak communities on the territory of modern Ukraine. This language was used by Armenians living in the Crimea, Kamianets-Podilskyi, and other cities where the Kipchaks had significant influence. The Armenian-Kipchak language is a mixed language that combines elements of the Kipchak (Polovtsian) and Armenian languages, making it a unique cultural heritage.
The Kamianets-Podilskyi Armenian Voytiv Court was a judicial institution that operated in Kamianets-Podilskyi during the Middle Ages. It resolved legal issues of the local Armenian community. The record books of this court are valuable sources on the history of law, ethnography, and social life of the society of that time. These books have been stored in the archive for centuries and have now become available thanks to their digitization.
Kazakhstan has now received digital copies of unique ancient Kipchak books, which are now available for study and research, enriching the historical heritage of both countries.
On July 22, 1992, the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ukraine established diplomatic relations. And in December 1994, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ukraine was opened.
An expert group prepared by WHO intends to conduct a thorough analysis of the origin of the coronavirus, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Thursday.
“Further research is needed to determine how COVID-19 spread from the very beginning, including a more detailed analysis of the possibility of an abnormal situation in the laboratory,” the AP quotes excerpts from the report of the expert group.
The agency recalls that last year the US Department of Health announced that there was an extremely small possibility of the spread of COVID-19 among people due to a leak from the laboratory.
“Basic data to explain the emergence of the pandemic is still missing. Scientists said the group is open to any scientific evidence available to comprehensively explore all reasonable hypotheses,” the report says.
Infection with the coronavirus COVID-19 was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province at the end of 2019, then it began to spread around the world. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus a pandemic.
By early April 2020, WHO reported that the number of cases of COVID-19 infection worldwide exceeded 1 million. By mid-October 2021, almost 240 million cases of infection had been registered worldwide.
Most scientists initially believed that COVID-19 was a virus of zoonotic origin. It is assumed that it could be transmitted to humans from bats. To determine the source of origin of the coronavirus, WHO initiated a special investigation. To this end, in early February 2021, a team of WHO experts visited the Wuhan Institute of Virology and, following the visit, concluded that a leak of viruses from the laboratory of the institute was “highly unlikely”. Many Western countries did not agree with the results of this investigation.
China has repeatedly opposed calls by WHO to conduct additional investigations in the country to determine the source of the origin of COVID-19.
