TextSearch

Ancient Mesopotamia, the land of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, now lies mostly in modern Iraq and northeastern Syria, together with southeastern Turkey and western Iran. More than five thousand years ago, the world's first literate and urban society arose in this region. Mesopotamia was diverse and endlessly changing.

Skip to main content <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-55Z5753D" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> Study at Cambridge About the University Research at Cambridge Quick links For staff For Cambridge students For alumni For our researchers Business and enterprise Colleges & departments Email & phone search Give to Cambridge Libraries Museums & collections Search site Home Study at Cambridge Undergraduate Undergraduate courses Applying Events and open days Fees and finance Postgraduate Postgraduate courses How to apply Postgraduate events Fees and funding International students Continuing education Executive and professional education Courses in education About the University How the University and Colleges work Term dates and calendars History Map Visiting the University Annual reports Equality and diversity News A global university Events Public engagement Jobs Give to Cambridge Research at Cambridge For staff For Cambridge students For alumni For our researchers Business and enterprise Colleges & departments Email & phone search Give to Cambridge Libraries Museums & collections Breadcrumb Home Our Subjects Assyriology and Mesopotamian Archaeology Ancient Mesopotamia - an overview Department of Archaeology Horizontal menu Home Current Students Current Students overview For students in other Triposes Biological Anthropology Papers Offered in 2026/2027 Human Social and Political Sciences Tripos Medical and Veterinary Sciences Triposes Natural Sciences Tripos Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Tripos Archaeological Review from Cambridge Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Statement on Addressing Racism in Archaeology Athena SWAN Environmental Sustainability & Green Impact Study with Us Study with Us overview Prospective Undergraduate Students Degree Structure Your Learning Environment How to Apply Online Resources for Prospective Archaeology Students Prospective MPhil Students MPhil in Archaeological Science MPhil in Archaeology MPhil in Archaeological Research MPhil in Biological Anthropological Science MPhil in Assyriology MPhil in Egyptology MPhil in Heritage Studies MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies How to Apply MPhil Modules Prospective PhD Students Prospective Postgraduate Students Visiting Postgraduate Students Student Funding Funding for Postgraduate Students Careers for Archaeologists Open Days Subjects Subjects overview Archaeology Archaeological Science Assyriology and Mesopotamian Archaeology Ancient Mesopotamia - an overview Mesopotamian Languages Mesopotamian Archaeology Studying Mesopotamia at Cambridge Undergraduate study MPhil study PhD study Teaching Collection Mesopotamian Research at Cambridge The Cambridge Mesopotamia Diary Mesopotamian Films Online Resources for Mesopotamia Ancient Sumer - Resources for Primary School Teachers Biological Anthropology Egyptology Heritage Studies Cambridge Heritage Research Centre Studying Heritage at Cambridge Institutes and Facilities Institutes and Facilities overview McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Annual Reports Cambridge Archaeological Journal McDonald Institute Monographs 2026 - 2030 2021 - 2025 2016‒2020 2011‒2015 2006‒2010 2001‒2005 1996‒2000 Duckworth Collections Application Instructions Policies and Procedures Contact the Duckworth Haddon Library Cambridge Archaeological Unit Cambridge Heritage Research Centre Archaeological Science Laboratories Pitt-Rivers Laboratory for Archaeological Science Computational and Digital Archaeology Laboratory Laboratory Facilities Computational Archaeology Resources Glyn Daniel Laboratory Laboratory Facilities Dorothy Garrod Laboratory for Isotopic Analysis Research Examples Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Biomolecular Archaeology Ancient Parasites Laboratory Charles McBurney Laboratory for Geoarchaeology Grahame Clark Laboratory for Zooarchaeology Laboratory Facilities Resources Research Examples Sample Preparation Laboratory Material Culture Research Hub Palaeoanthropology Laboratory Equipment Bruker Skyscan 1273 microCT scanner News Our People Our People overview Senior Academic Staff Affiliated Academic Staff Research Staff Professional Staff PhD Students Honorary Staff Our Research Our Research overview Research Themes Environment, Landscapes and Settlement Heritage Rethinking Complexity Human Evolutionary Studies Material Culture Science, Technology and Innovation Research Projects Current Projects Recently Completed Projects Archived Projects Research Ethics FAIR Research Statement Work with Us Work with Us overview Jobs Join our Community Postdoctoral Opportunities Laboratory Fees and Charges Events Events overview McDonald Annual Lectures Conferences and Workshops Distinguished Visitor Lectures Departmental Seminar Series Other Cambridge Events Outreach Events Events Search Past Events Search Contact Us and Accessibility Contact Us and Accessibility overview Accessibility and Support for Students Building and Facilities Acces...

Ancient Mesopotamia - an overview | Department of Archaeology