Assur

The site, also known as Aššur or Qal'at Shirqat, served as the first capital of Assyria and was a vital trade hub during the Bronze Age. Archaeological evidence indicates the city was founded around the mid-3rd millennium BC and remained a major religious center even after its status as the political capital changed.

Occupation at the site spanned more than 4,000 years. The settlement was continuously inhabited from approximately 2500 BC until the 14th century, at which point it was abandoned.

In 2003, the location was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. This status was granted to help protect the archaeological remains from a proposed dam project that threatened to submerge portions of the ancient city.