Ancient CivilizationsUncovering a Buried Assyrian Capital Posted on December 18, 2024 by Administrator One of Sargon II’s (r. 721–706 BCE) many acts—besides conquering Samaria and taking the ten northern tribes of Israel into exile, of course—was the establishment of a brand-new capital for the Assyrian Empire, Dur-Sharrukin. Before the purpose-built city was completed, however, Sargon fell in battle, and his son, Sennacherib, moved the capital instead to Nineveh, leaving the unfinished Dur-Sharrukin to be buried by history. Now, a joint French-German team is discovering that much more of the city had been completed than previously thought. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
