© British MuseumReconstruction of the palace.
Girsu was discovered during the 19th century, with the first excavations being conducted in the 1880s by the French archaeologist, Ernest de Sarzec.
These early excavations uncovered the famous Stele of the Vultures (the earliest known war monument), that dates from the Early Dynastic IIIb period (2600-2350 BC) and commemorates the victory of king Eannatum of Lagash, over Ush, king of Umma.
© British Museum
A study in 2021 by the Girsu Project, a joint initiative between the British Museum and the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) of Iraq, have been applying remote sensing within the Girsu zone at an area designated as Tablet hill.
The study revealed a vast complex of undisturbed architectural remains, which have now been excavated to reveal a mudbrick-built palace and more than 200 ancient cuneiform tablets containing administrative records.
Archaeologists also discovered a main sanctuary of the great Sumerian god, Ningirsu (from whom the city has taken its name), located in the sacred precinct called the Urukug. The sanctuary is named Eninnu, the White Thunderbird, and would have been revered as one of the most important temples of Mesopotamia.
Dr Hartwig Fischer, Director of the British Museum, said: "While our knowledge of the Sumerian world remains limited today, the work at Girsu and the discovery of the lost palace and temple hold enormous potential for our understanding of this important civilisation, shedding light on the past and informing the future."
The Girsu Project
The Girsu Project, led by the British Museum and funded by Getty, builds on the legacy of the Museum's Iraq Scheme, developed in 2015 and first funded by the British Government in response to the destruction of heritage sites in Iraq and Syria by Daesh (or Islamic State). The Girsu project addresses the damage caused by early excavations and modern looting.
Reader Comments
5000 years later... they find a muddy field torn up by bikes/quads.... baked in the sun, with barbecues and tinnies sprawled everywhere trodden into the mud...
"Lost city of the serpents found"
finally archeologists have uncovered the most intact serpent temple, along with a ancient writing stencil (disposable BBQ grill top) and a collection of cylindrical metal objects believed to be offerings to the lizard god ninkipu (fosters/carling cans).....
Language experts believe thesee could be early alphabet ("brewed at Burton upon trent under license" )
Gotta have a laugh ain't yer
Just look at the way they react to Graham Hancock, like little children in the sandbox!!
I have often noted the following re Sumerians, my fave ancient people’s, and I am. stitching guy to be honest,
Sumerian: Chaldean, Terah, Annu, Black headed people.
Ancient Gaels: Culdeans, Tara, De Dannu, Black Irish!!
Hmmmmmm!
Possibly, the Fir Bolgs were the Black Irish, and I think they were a tribe of Sumerians on research for Stellar Observation a la Bru na Boine , Knowth , Dowth etc,
And also navigational sites all the way up to the Orkneys and their incredible megalithic sites!!
Just sayin☘️🇨🇦
But science and archeology is two fold, the people in power learn we were telling the truth (with no agenda or financial directive) while they give us "fantasy" to chew on.
My question to archeologists and scientists would be...when there is a contradiction in terms between one expert and another.
The expertise claim becomes moot. One of them is wrong (or both) but that scenario produces REAL evidence of falsehood passed off as expertise, while both scientists/archeologists would both agree to disagree against someone like me for asking for even clarification.
Im under no illusions that everyone who has ever lived will be judged but should I spend my life in correction of my own bad deeds or spend my life trying to convince you that you will be judged the same?
Why do archeologists want to tell me what "is" when none of it helps my life in the present while they have a ball travelling and disagreeing at my labor expense.
That is never on the table or wished to be dug up.
My take on such excavations, is that its a put up and shut up exercise, anything that would promote or question an existing narrative would most probably be carted away swiftly, never to be seen again.
The archeological budget vs tangible access to food and medicine are becoming more stark by the day, but if someone wants to prove to me something new about God outside of what God already tells me in the bible I would still ask for evidence or proof and still want to weigh up it's benefits to my spiritual health, that is because to not do that is folly and feel how being lectured by science is like TV....it's a one way information stream, either secret when it suits or never invites lively debate by non "experts".
The Crown: "Any valuables are ours, any dead bodies are yours. Let us know if you need media assistance or secrecy"
Done.
Meanwhile: people without the need of a spade (because they have no access to even a garden) can wrestle with wether they need to renew their passport...being cargo to the Crown etc...