Kirkuk

Kirkuk is a large city in northern Iraq that sits at the base of the Zagros mountain range and is marked by a citadel on top of an ancient mound. Around this central rise spread residential quarters, narrow lanes and modern avenues that mark the shift between old and newer districts.

Human settlement here reaches back to Neanderthal times and the place flourished under the name Arrapha during Assyrian rule in the 9th century BCE. Later control shifted among several empires, though its role as a crossroads between highland and plain remained central.

The old quarter streets show traces of Kurdish, Turkmen and Arab communities through prayer spaces, workshops and market stalls that sit side by side. Visitors today notice how different languages are spoken and local shops carry goods reflecting all three traditions.

A visit is easiest to plan from Baghdad, where a road and rail link covering around 238 kilometers (148 miles) allows access. The central area is best explored on foot, while the place serves as a starting point to reach surrounding highland zones.

Archaeological work at the site uncovered objects from the Ubaid period, pointing to one of the earliest permanent settlements in Mesopotamia. These finds show that people here used pottery and simple tools long before the first city-states arose.