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World's Oldest Bridge Discovered in Iraq, Dating Back 4000 Years
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News18•30-09-2026, 14:04
World's Oldest Bridge Discovered in Iraq, Dating Back 4000 Years
- •The world's oldest bridge has been found in Girsu, an ancient city in the desert region of Iraq.
- •This approximately 5,000-year-old city was the capital of the Sumerian civilization, where a structure made of baked red bricks was discovered.
- •The bridge's history dates back about 4,000 years, with its first excavation conducted by French archaeologists in 1877.
- •Identified in the 1920s, it was initially mistaken for a temple or dam; recent research confirmed it as a bridge.
- •The British Museum, with UK government funding, is working to preserve this 4,000-year-old bridge and the ancient city of Girsu.
Key Questions Answered
The world's oldest bridge is located in the ancient Sumerian city of Girsu, which is situated in the desert region of Iraq between Baghdad and Basra and is known as Tello today.
The structure, made of baked red bricks and identified as the world's oldest bridge, has a history dating back approximately 4,000 years.
The British Museum, with financial assistance from the UK government, is working to save the historic site and is providing special training to Iraqi archaeologists for cultural heritage preservation.
