rchaeological remains at Tell Muhammad in southeastern Baghdad, where Iraqi and Italian archaeologists are conducting excavations that have revealed structures dating back to the Old Babylonian period. Photo credit: University of Catania – UnictMagazine

Iraqi-Italian excavations uncover evidence of ancient bread and beer production, defensive walls and burial practices dating back around 4,000 years, while plans advance to develop the historic site into an archaeological park.

Baghdad – Ishtar TV

New archaeological discoveries at Tell Muhammad, located in southeastern Baghdad, are providing fresh insights into everyday life in ancient Mesopotamia, particularly during the Old Babylonian period associated with King Hammurabi.

The latest findings were announced following archaeological excavations conducted by an Italian mission from the University of Catania in cooperation with Iraq’s State Board of Antiquities and Heritage. The joint project, launched in 2022, aims to investigate the ancient settlement, preserve its archaeological remains and develop the site into an archaeological park.

Among the most notable discoveries are possible facilities used for bread production and beer brewing, alongside defensive structures, ancient gates and evidence of metalworking and burial practices.

Evidence of Ancient Bread and Beer Production

In a report published on November 2, 2026, Euronews highlighted new discoveries at Tell Muhammad that shed light on food production and daily activities in Mesopotamia approximately 4,000 years ago.

According to Nicola Laneri, professor of archaeology at the University of Catania and leader of the archaeological mission, excavations revealed an area believed to have been used for bread production and possibly beer brewing.

One particularly significant discovery was a cuneiform tablet referring to a person receiving barley and producing a type of Mesopotamian beer known as "Kurun".

Laneri explained that researchers are still translating the tablet, which could provide further information about ancient food production and economic activities.

Defensive Walls and Ancient City Gates

Excavations have also uncovered remains of the settlement's defensive walls and two gates, one of which is believed to have served as a smaller passage possibly used by military forces.

These architectural remains provide important evidence about the city's urban planning, defensive arrangements and organisation during the Old Babylonian period.

According to a report published by The National on October 29, 2026, archaeologists also identified evidence of metalworking, food-production facilities and ancient funerary practices.

The discoveries are helping researchers reconstruct the relationship between residential areas, production activities and the defensive infrastructure of the ancient settlement.

Evidence of Metalworking and Ancient Burial Practices

Beyond architectural remains and food-production facilities, archaeological investigations have revealed traces of metalworking and activities associated with the processing of metals.

Researchers have also identified evidence of ancient burial practices, including burials beneath the floors of buildings.

Together, these discoveries offer a broader understanding of the economic, social and cultural life of the settlement and the activities that took place within its residential and production areas.

Plans to Develop Tell Muhammad into an Archaeological Park

Alongside the excavation work, Iraqi authorities are advancing plans to transform Tell Muhammad into an archaeological park that will preserve the site and make its historical significance more accessible to visitors.

On October 26, 2026, a protective roofing system was presented at the site as part of efforts to safeguard the excavated remains.

The event was attended by Ali Obaid Shalgham, head of Iraq's State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, and Italian Ambassador to Iraq Niccolò Fontana.

The project includes the protection and restoration of archaeological structures, as well as the preparation of educational and interactive information panels to help visitors understand the history of the settlement.

According to archaeological mission leader Nicola Laneri, restoration work is also being completed on two temples previously excavated by Iraqi archaeologists during the 1980s.

Newly recovered artefacts are expected to be transferred to the Iraq Museum in Baghdad for public display.

A Settlement with a History Dating Back Thousands of Years

Tell Muhammad is located in the southeastern suburbs of Baghdad and represents an important archaeological site for understanding the development of ancient settlements in central Mesopotamia.

According to the official website of the University of Catania's Baghdad Urban Archaeological Project (BUAP), the site's archaeological sequence extends from the Ur III period, at the end of the third millennium BC, to the Kassite period, approximately between the 16th and 13th centuries BC.

The settlement was particularly significant during the Old Babylonian period, approximately 1850–1600 BC.

Historical research has also linked the site to King Hammurabi through copper-alloy maceheads bearing an Akkadian inscription referring to the "Palace of Hammurabi".

Earlier excavations conducted by Iraq's State Board of Antiquities and Heritage between 1978 and 1985 uncovered a sacred area and hundreds of cuneiform tablets.

The University of Catania resumed archaeological investigations in 2022 to examine earlier phases of occupation and better understand the site's historical and geographical connections with neighbouring Mesopotamian centres, including Babylon and Eshnunna.

A New Chapter for Baghdad's Archaeological Heritage

The ongoing Iraqi-Italian cooperation at Tell Muhammad represents an important step towards preserving Baghdad's ancient heritage and strengthening archaeological research in Iraq.

The proposed archaeological park is expected to provide an educational and cultural space for visitors, allowing them to explore the remains of a settlement that flourished thousands of years before Baghdad became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.

As excavations and restoration work continue, further studies, particularly the translation of the newly discovered cuneiform tablet, may reveal additional details about food production, economic activities and everyday life in ancient Mesopotamia.

Tell Muhammad is therefore emerging as an important site for understanding the urban, economic and cultural history of ancient Iraq.