Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of the oldest Sumerian harbor ever discovered in Iraq at the site of Abu Tbeirah near the ancient city of Ur. The port was discovered when researchers doing a survey of the site looked into a fox's hole and saw clay bricks. Over the past two years, they have uncovered the large brick ramparts that surrounded the docks and a basin that was connected to a canal. Archaeologists also found alabaster vases and parts of a necklace which are clearly from other civilizations, testifying to the trade that must have occurred at that time. Based on the finds, scholars are suggesting that Abu Tbeirah may have been a satellite port-town of Ur and that these Sumerian city-states stayed connected to the delta of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for a greater period of time than originally believed. The Bible records that Abraham was born in the city of Ur (Gn 11:26-31).
Off-site Links:
- https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/MAGAZINE-archaeologists-peek-into-fox-burrow-find-4-000-year-old-sumerian-port-1.5936818
- http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2018/03/21/archaeologists-discover-4000-year-old-port-ancient-sumer-mesopotamia-near-iraqs-nasiriyah/