Bestansur, Archaeological site in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq.
Bestansur is an archaeological site in Sulaymaniyah Governorate on the Shahrizor Plain near the Zagros Mountains. The mound measures approximately 80 to 90 meters across and rises about 6 meters high, containing multiple occupation layers from different historical periods.
Excavations beginning in 2012 revealed continuous occupation from the Early Neolithic period through the Neo-Assyrian, Sasanian, and Ottoman eras. Each period left behind its own structures and artifacts at the location.
The site reveals how different communities lived and organized themselves across multiple time periods. Layers show changing ways of living and crafts that people practiced over thousands of years.
The site sits at an elevation of 553 meters, approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Sulaymaniyah city. Visitors should expect remote terrain with limited facilities and arrange local guidance or information before visiting.
Archaeologists uncovered 72 individuals buried beneath Building 5, offering insights into early burial practices. A noteworthy discovery was an imprint of an ancient fishing net, indicating early fishing in the water-rich region.
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