It was in the Middle East, which today is best known for frequent armed conflicts, where the first cities that have been registered have emerged. One of them is Girsu, who today is called Tell Telloh and is between Baghdad and Basra, in Iraq. With at least 5 millennia old, the place became capital of the kingdom of Lagash, a sacred metropolis that was founded in devotion to the Sumerian hero Ningirsu.
It was in this city that, for the first time, the main evidences of the existence of the Sumerian civilization, characterized by plates with economic, administrative and commercial records, were made through cuneiform writing. In addition to this precious material for the history of mankind, a bridge made of bricks has been discovered, which until now is the oldest ever registered, at 4,000 years old.
This place was discovered by two French archaeologists in 1877. Unfortunately, excavation techniques were not as advanced at the time, and modern preservation methods did not yet exist, with the lack of care of explorers compromising relevant details of the finding.
Alongside this, treasure hunters have looted most of the plaques and other artifacts, which have been sold to collectors around the world. Archaeologists recorded the existence of 4,000 registration plates, but today it is estimated that the site housed a total of 40,000 pieces, which have their whereabouts unknown.
The structure of the bridge was discovered in 1920, but archaeologists initially had difficulty understanding the reason for the construction, suggesting that it could have functioned as a dam, a temple, or a system of regulating the flow of water. Just recently the ruins were characterized as a bridge, which overcame an ancient waterway.
Since the excavations began a century ago, the bridge is exposed to atmospheric aggression without any effort for conservation. The site is currently under the responsibility of the British Museum, which through British government resources uses the site for training Iraqi archaeologists in managing cultural heritage and developing practical skills in the field. The next step will be the restoration of the bridge, carried out during the training.
