IraqAlert from the U.S. Department of Commerce's (Issued June 16, 2008)

The Erbil Citadel lies in the middle of the Greater City of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Northern Iraq. The Erbil Citadel, also known as the Hawler Citadel (Hawler is the Kurdish word for Erbil, which is Arabic) is between 7,000 to 10,000 years old, making it one of the longest continuously inhabited sites on Earth. The existence of a plentiful supply of ground water sustained the Citadel's inhabitants throughout its long history. This ancient citadel witnessed the rule of many historical nations, like the Sumarians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Achaemenid Persians, Greeks, Iranian Parthians, Persian Sassanids, Ottomans, and the Muslim Caliphate. Its rich history can be found along the winding, breezy alleyways of the town, the ornate dusty mosaics, old mosques, public baths, mixed architecture, and other historical intrigues.

Today it remains an oasis in the middle of modern Erbil, rising 38 meters (˜125 feet) above the heart of the busy central commercial district. Residents of the Citadel were relocated in 2007 to preserve the historical nature of the site, although a single family does remain. UNESCO has developed a project to rehabilitate a single site in the citadel and provide it with necessary supplies and equipment to serve as a focal point for the rehabilitation of the citadel and as a hosting place for cultural activities. The UNESCO restoration project provided a strategy to enforce local capacities in the field of conservation and restoration techniques, undertake study for urgent remedial works to prevent further damages and establish a Conservation Master Plan. It is hoped that after conservation and restoration, that the real age and origin of the citadel are discovered. A better understanding of the ancient Erbil Citadel requires systematic and scientific archaeological excavations to maintain the historical site.

The Citadel site director, Mr. Dara Al-Yaqubi, has expressed a strong desire to cooperate with U.S. universities, non-profits, or other organizations with historical, excavation, archaeological, or engineering support interested in becoming a part of the long, rich history of this truly special piece of our global heritage. For more information on the Citadel, visit, www.erbilcitadel.org, or contact Mr. Dara Al-Yaqubi at: dara.alyaqubi[at]erbilcitadel.org.

Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force
International Trade Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1-866-352-IRAQ
www.trade.gov/iraq
IraqInfo@mail.doc.gov

Page Updated June 17, 2008