The ancient caravan city of Hatra, located in northern Iraq about 100 km south of Mosul and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was visited for the first time since its liberation from ISIS in April 2017 by a joint Italian-Iraqi mission. This team, consisting of archaeologists and architects, operates under the guidance of ISMEO – the International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, in collaboration with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, the University of Padua, and the University of Siena. The project was funded by the ALIPH Foundation (International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, based in Geneva).
During the mission, a comprehensive survey of the site’s surface, spanning approximately 7.3 km², was conducted using drones. The images captured have a resolution of 3.5 cm per pixel for the entire city and 1 cm per pixel for the area within the temenos. A 3D model was also created of the exteriors of the sacred buildings and two of the most significant interiors of the large Iwans. The images, shown for the first time, are stunning and captivating. The goal is to spark renewed international interest in this extraordinary archaeological site and draw attention to the urgent need for its restoration.
