The ancient city of Anqa, located in present-day Al-Qaim district of the Anbar Governorate in Iraq, is being recognized as the “Forgotten Twin” of the more well-known Dura-Europos. This city, situated just across the Euphrates river from Dura-Europos, has similar features and historical significance, yet has been largely neglected by scholars. Anqa’s strategic location at a narrowing point in the Euphrates floodplain made it an important hub for trade and movement between different regions, but it was not until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that it began to receive any scholarly attention.
Despite its potential value as a site for archaeological study, Anqa has been overshadowed by Dura-Europos, which has received more attention due to its association with British and French colonial interventions in the region. The division of Iraq and Syria by these colonial powers created barriers to research and understanding of the history of the region as a whole. However, Anqa has remained relatively untouched by conflict and looting, making it a valuable opportunity for further exploration and insight into the history of the Middle Euphrates region.
A new paper in the Journal of Near Eastern Studies highlights the significance of Anqa as a mirror image of Dura-Europos, with similar size, composition, and potential for scholarly research. The city’s identifying features include a tell mound, inner wall circuit, and outer defensive wall, indicating its strategic and economic importance in controlling movement along the Euphrates valley. The city was identified in the 19th century by a British Middle Euphrates expedition survey, and further studied in the 1930s by Aurel Stein, but has since been largely overlooked by archaeologists.
As digital scholarship methods continue to advance and bring researchers together, the potential for studying sites like Anqa to address the consequences of colonialism in archaeology becomes more feasible. By exploring neglected sites such as Anqa, scholars can gain a better understanding of the region’s history and cultural heritage, and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the ancient world. As Anqa emerges from obscurity and gains recognition as a valuable archaeological site, it offers a unique opportunity for collaboration and research that may shed new light on the history of the Middle Euphrates region and its connection to neighboring civilizations.
