Shaduppum, Ancient administrative site in Baghdad, Iraq
Shaduppum is an archaeological site in Baghdad that reveals the remains of an ancient Mesopotamian settlement. The excavations have uncovered five distinct occupation layers containing residential areas, administrative buildings, and fortification walls with defensive towers.
This settlement reached its height during the Old Babylonian period between 2000 and 1595 BCE as part of the Kingdom of Eshnunna. Its importance as an administrative center is evident in the thousands of clay tablets discovered at the site.
The name Shaduppum comes from Akkadian and means 'the accountant's office', reflecting its role as an important administrative hub. Today, visitors can sense how this ancient settlement served as a center for business and administrative matters of the region.
Visiting requires patience as the terrain is uneven and offers little shade. Bring water and protective clothing, and aim to arrive early in the morning to avoid extreme heat.
Among the clay tablets discovered are fragments of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of humanity's oldest known literary works. This discovery reveals how widely valued this mythological story was across the ancient world.
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