Using deep-penetrating LiDAR and subsurface radar, a joint international mission has identified the massive foundations of a Sumerian temple in the ancient city of Girsu, located in modern-day Dhi Qar Province, Iraq. Preliminary analysis suggests the temple was dedicated to Nammu, the primordial goddess of the creative deep and the mother of Enki, dating back to approximately 2500 BCE.
The temple complex spans over 3,000 square meters and includes a series of concentric courtyards and a central ziggurat-like platform. Archaeologists are particularly excited about the discovery of 'foundation nails' made of copper, which were traditionally used to tether the temple to the divine realm. This find promises to fill significant gaps in our understanding of early Mesopotamian cosmogony and the evolution of the 'E-Abzu' temple architecture.