Spy satellite images reveal site of historic Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah in Iraq

Satellite imagery from the 1970s helped archaeologists in identifying the site of the seventh-century Battle of Qadisiyah, a pivotal war between Arabs and Persians that significantly contributed to the spread of Islam in the region.

This historic battle, which took place between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), saw Arab Muslim forces face off against the Sassanid Persian Empire in 636 CE. 

The Muslim army emerged victorious, enabling their continued advance into Persian territories, now Iran.

A team of archaeologists from Durham University in the UK and Iraq’s Al-Qadisiyah University conducted a remote sensing survey to map Darb Zubaydah, an ancient pilgrimage route linking Kufa to Mecca which dates back over a thousand years. 

Their findings were published in the journal Antiquity.

While mapping the route, the team identified features in an agricultural area about 30 kilometers south of Kufa in Iraq’s southern Najaf province. These features closely matched descriptions of the Battle of Qadisiyah’s location found in historical records.

A remote sensing expert at Durham University, William Dedman highlighted the significance of Cold War-era satellite images for archaeological research in the Middle East. 

These older images often reveal features that have since been destroyed or altered due to modern development and are no longer visible in contemporary satellite imagery.

Dedman noted that the past five decades have brought significant agricultural and urban expansion in the region. He explained that distinctive features of the Qadisiyah site, such as a trench, were far more visible in the 1970s photographs.

On-site surveys also supported  these findings, leading researchers to confidently identify the battlefield.

Archaeology professor at Al-Qadisiyah University, Jaafar Jotheri, pointed out key elements of the battlefield, including a deep trench, two fortifications, and an ancient river. 

According to historical accounts, Persian forces employed elephants during the battle. The team also discovered pottery fragments dating back to the period of the conflict.

Saddam Hussein frequently invoked the Battle of Qadisiyah as a symbol of Iraq’s strength, using it to bolster national morale during the prolonged conflict with Iran in the 1980s.