In a recent breakthrough, scientists have unveiled new insights about the ancient city of Anqa, often referred to as the “forgotten” sister site of Dura-Europos. This city, located in the Al-Qaim district of the Anbar Governorate in Iraq, shares striking similarities with Dura-Europos, including a comparable size, identical composition, and the potential to offer valuable insights into the history of the Middle Euphrates region.
Anqa’s Architectural Remains and Strategic Significance
Anqa’s remains include an identifying tell mound, a polygonal inner wall circuit, and a large outer defensive wall or enceinte. Its strategic position at the narrowest point of the Euphrates floodplain would have given it control over movement between the populous section of the valley upstream and the trade route downstream linking Syria, Northern Mesopotamia, and Babylonia, making it an economically and strategically significant site.
