Excavations on unpromising mounds in the Iraqi desert revealed Sumer’s earliest city. Surviving relics and a rebuilt temple have given experts more clues about the ancient metropolis of Eridu.

This photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows a view of the Ziggurat of Ur in al-Nasiriyah, Iraq. The ancient city of Ur, which is famous for the Ziggurat of Ur built by Sumerians, is believed to be one ...