A team of German and Kurdish archaeologists have discovered a 3,400-year-old ancient city that once stood on the banks of the Tigris River.. A settlement has risen above the waters of a reservoir in Mosul due to a drop in water levels caused by a drought in Iraq, according to Phys. org.

Researchers have found a large city with a palace and several large buildings. According to them, this may be ancient Zakiku, which was an important center of the Mittani Empire (1550-1350 BC).

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Iraq is one of the countries in the world that has been significantly affected by climate change.. So, the south of the country has been suffering from a severe drought for several months.. Large quantities of water are drawn from the Mosul reservoir to prevent crops from drying out.. As a result, a large ancient city appeared above the surface of the water, which was flooded several decades ago without any preliminary archaeological research..

Archaeologists sought to study and document as much data about this city as possible before it was under water again.. " The publication notes that it was a spontaneous decision of several experts..

Scientists were struck by the excellent condition of the walls of the city, some of which are several meters high.. They survived despite the fact that they were made of mud brick and spent more than 40 years under water.. Researchers explain the good preservation by the fact that the city was destroyed as a result of an earthquake that occurred around 1350 BC.. The collapsed upper parts of the walls buried the buildings below them..

The scientists also found clay vessels that contained an archive of more than 100 cuneiform tablets.. They belong to the Middle Assyrian period, shortly after the earthquake hit the city.. Some clay tablets, which may be letters, are still in their clay envelopes.. The researchers hope this discovery will provide important information about the end of the Mittani period city and the beginning of Assyrian rule in the region..

In order to keep the buildings from the rapidly soaking water, the walls were covered with a layer of dense film, which was pressed down with gravel.. This will help protect the walls and other adobe finds, as the city is already under water again..

Earlier, scientists from the Museum of Archeology in London discovered a Roman mosaic in London, which is the largest found in the last half century.. The two decorated panels feature flowers, geometric patterns and intricate motifs in a style unique to the British capital..