Tell Qasra archaeological mound in Ankawa, Erbil, a site reflecting the region’s successive historical and cultural periods. Photo Credit: Levi Clancy – Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 (Public Domain). Free to reuse, modify and publish, including commercially, without permission.

From evidence dating back to prehistoric times to remains associated with the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods, this archaeological mound holds important clues to the ancient settlement history of Ankawa.

Ankawa – Ishtar TV

In the heart of Ankawa, near the historic Church of Mar Gorgis (St. George), Tell Qasra stands as an important witness to the ancient history of this town north of Erbil. Today surrounded by modern buildings and streets, the archaeological mound is regarded as one of Ankawa’s oldest known archaeological sites, providing valuable evidence of successive periods of human settlement and ancient civilizations in the Erbil plain and Mesopotamia.

The significance of Tell Qasra extends beyond its appearance as an archaeological mound. Its occupation layers and excavated finds offer insights into thousands of years of regional history and provide researchers with opportunities to examine the connections between Ankawa and the wider Sumerian and Assyrian civilizations.

Tell Qasra: An Archaeological Site Dating Back Thousands of Years

Tell Qasra is located in Ankawa, approximately six kilometres from Erbil Citadel. The oval-shaped mound has a perimeter of approximately 186.75 metres, according to a study published by the Assyrian Cultural Institute.

The site was surveyed by an archaeological team in 1945 and was subsequently registered by Iraq’s State Board of Antiquities and Heritage.

Studies have identified several occupation layers, with the latest associated with the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods, approximately 1365–609 BC.

Archaeological finds include fragments of clay jars, pottery vessels, lamps and incense burners decorated with motifs similar to those discovered at other Assyrian archaeological sites.

Some researchers have suggested that the site may once have served as an official residence or administrative centre for a local Assyrian governor. However, this remains a scholarly hypothesis requiring further archaeological evidence.

Archaeological Excavations and Successive Settlement Layers

Tell Qasra received academic attention from Salahaddin University in Erbil, whose Department of Archaeology conducted training excavations at the site from October to November 2005, followed by another excavation season in April 2006.

Published studies indicate that archaeological finds from Tell Qasra and its surrounding area belong to several historical periods, including prehistoric phases preceding the emergence of writing, as well as Assyrian periods.

In a study published in 2023, Bernard Yousif Ashour, Director of Heritage and the Syriac Heritage Museum, explained that archaeological sites in Ankawa, including Tell Qasra, Kharbet Ankawa and Roma Daqtma, have yielded evidence dating to the Ubaid period, approximately 5300–4000 BC, and the Uruk period, associated with the emergence of writing around 3500 BC.

The discoveries also include archaeological material attributed to the Old and Middle Assyrian periods.

The study refers to excavation reports from Salahaddin University's archaeological mission for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Farouk Hanna Atto: Ankawa’s Roots Extend Back to the Ubaid Period

In his 2017 book, Ankawa in the Memory of Its People, historian Farouk Hanna Atto highlights the importance of archaeological excavations at Tell Qasra, drawing on the work of specialists, archaeologists and students from Salahaddin University's Department of Archaeology.

In a passage quoted by researcher Bernard Yousif Ashour from page 22 of the book, Atto states that excavation findings support dating the mound to the Ubaid period, approximately 4000–5000 BC, with archaeological finds belonging to different historical periods.

This assessment is significant because it connects the history of modern Ankawa with much older settlement roots and places the site within the broader history of ancient human communities in the Erbil region.

Ankawa in the Memory of Its People is an important documentary work covering the town’s history, geography, social and cultural heritage, and archaeological sites. The book was published by Akila Ink Press in Erbil in 2017.

From an Ancient Archaeological Site to Christian Historical Heritage

The importance of Tell Qasra did not end with antiquity. Studies indicate that the site underwent adaptive reuse during the early Christian period, becoming incorporated into a church complex and serving as a cemetery for the local Assyrian population.

This aspect adds another historical dimension to the site because of its proximity to the Church of Mar Gorgis (St. George), one of Ankawa’s prominent religious and historical landmarks.

The surrounding area therefore offers an important opportunity to study the relationship between ancient settlement patterns and the religious and social transformations that shaped the town over the centuries.

The Assyrian Cultural Institute also notes that the street currently separating the mound from the church is relatively recent, reflecting the urban changes that have affected the archaeological landscape.

The Name Qasra: Linguistic Meaning and Historical Hypotheses

The name Qasra is commonly associated with the meaning of a palace or fortified structure. This has led to suggestions that the site may once have served an administrative or military purpose during one of its historical phases.

However, its original function cannot yet be established conclusively. Further excavations and archaeological analysis are needed, particularly because the nature of the buildings and structures that may once have stood there has not been definitively determined.

It is therefore important to distinguish hypotheses concerning the site's name and possible function from established archaeological conclusions.

Preserving Tell Qasra: A Cultural and Historical Responsibility

Tell Qasra is more than an archaeological site surrounded by modern urban development. It forms part of Ankawa’s and Erbil’s historical memory and represents successive civilizations that left their mark on this region of Mesopotamia.

Preserving the site requires continued support for scientific excavations, documentation of archaeological discoveries and occupation layers, specialized research, and protection measures against the effects of urban expansion and other potential threats.

Making research findings accessible to scholars and the public, while introducing younger generations to the site's historical significance, would also strengthen awareness of the region’s archaeological heritage.

Although Tell Qasra still holds historical secrets beneath its layers, it remains a reminder that Ankawa’s civilizational history extends far beyond its modern urban appearance. Protecting this heritage is a shared responsibility and an essential part of preserving the region’s historical and cultural identity.

Sources and References:

1. Assyrian Cultural Institute – What Ancient Secrets Lie Beneath This Little-known Assyrian Mound?.
2. Bernard Yousif Ashour – Ankawa: An Analytical Study of Its Name in Light of Cuneiform Signs, Syriac Culture, January 21, 2023.
3. Salahaddin University – Archaeological Training Excavations at Tell Qasra, 2005–2006.
4. Farouk Hanna Atto Hapi, Ankawa in the Memory of Its People, Erbil, Akila Ink Press, 2017, p. 22.
5. UKH University Library Catalogue – Book Record.