Declassified U.S. spy satellite images have led archaeologists to what they believe is the site of the Battle of al-Qadisiyah, a decisive encounter that contributed to the spread of Islam beyond West Asia. The findings, published in the journal Antiquity, were confirmed by a British-Iraqi archaeological team using remote sensing techniques.
The battle, fought in the 630s AD in what was then Mesopotamia (now Iraq), saw Arab Muslims defeat the Persian Sassanid dynasty. This victory enabled the Arab army to continue its march into Persia, contributing significantly to the expansion of Islam.
Discovery of the Site
The team, conducting a survey of the Darb Zubaydah pilgrimage route from Iraq’s Kufa to Mecca, identified the site 30 kilometers south of Kufa in Iraq’s Najaf province. This desert area, featuring scattered agricultural plots, displayed characteristics aligning with historical descriptions of the battle.
Key features discovered include:
- A deep trench,
- Two fortresses,
- An ancient river once forded by elephant-mounted Persian troops,
- Pottery shards consistent with the time period.
Satellite imagery from the 1970s provided clearer views of certain features that have since been altered by agricultural and urban expansion in the region.
Historical Significance and Modern Context
The Battle of al-Qadisiyah holds significant historical, political, and religious implications. While the battle is remembered as a pivotal event in Islamic history, its interpretation in modern Iraq varies depending on political and religious sentiments. Saddam Hussein, for instance, frequently invoked the battle as a symbol of Iraqi resilience during the Iran-Iraq War.
Jaafar Jotheri, an archaeologist at the University of Al-Qadisiyah, emphasized the shared recognition of the battle’s importance across Iraq, despite differing perspectives based on the country’s political and religious divisions.
Future Plans and Iraq’s Archaeological Heritage
Excavations at the site are planned in the coming years as part of a project launched in 2015 to document endangered archaeological sites in Iraq. Although decades of conflict stymied archaeological exploration, recent efforts have revived interest, with numerous stolen artifacts repatriated and significant discoveries shedding light on Iraq’s rich history as the “cradle of civilization.