![Mr Brefkany, director of antiquities for the Dohuk Governorate, speaks at the opening.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FTVLVY6QIYDOLCDTTYOXEEXPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=089dc5506b346443d2ee69a81316de00fa83c869c32eb46d53760a1c714c7775&width=400&height=225)
![A tour is conducted during the opening of the first phase of the planned Faida archaeological park in Iraqi Kurdistan. All photos: AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5G7FF6BMB5GI6XWBLML3ZSW2QE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0f6b27a0f279259b632fe887788985a1e7c34715dd9e2e2ba2079a2aa6960929&width=400&height=225)
![A series of carved plaques lining an ancient irrigation canal are the central finds at the site.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6HLKGCPQ7VPB645WM2EMSANNOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b30bf5d398c65c113069c194ed28ffc5c59a74bd90b6827085c6c5978a2be248&width=400&height=225)
![The canal dates back to Assyrian times, specifically the reigns of Sargon II (721-705 BC) and his son Sennacherib.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2GGAT2YPGTEJZ57FDYLYJIN47Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=f014356845038822a469cd9b5b51972edfd6f48b4a614d233423bfb42d7835a7&width=400&height=225)
![Italian archaeologist Daniele Morandi Bonacossi, left, Italian ambassador in Iraq Maurizio Greganti, third left, Governor of Dohuk Ali Tatar, centre, Bishop of the Chaldean Diocese of Alqosh Mar Boulos Thabet, second right, and Director of Antiquities of Dohuk Governorate Bekas Brefkany, right, take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the first phase.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JEBPJACY36IZ3KZYZZVTUSRQK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=544d7da321d70d5d6e28734bf096c5824ef66365133c0ec84d46bb41ea4bd7e9&width=400&height=225)
![An aerial picture shows a view of a dig revealing an ancient irrigation canal lined with rock carvings dating back to Assyrian times, in the archaeological site of Faydeh (Faida) in the mountains near the town of the same name in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, on October 16, 2022, during the opening of the first phase of a planned archaeological park in Iraqi Kurdistan. (Photo by Ismael ADNAN / AFP)](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I3MJM5CSQGD2CYBHAGIAYZWYOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a93d548adf9f6f09a32886104515953ec2c87074d2f55ea3a4bf7d940163f369&width=400&height=225)
![The Faida site is in mountains near the town of the same name in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TSS3DPT6EUXRVOWIDFHNPU3YBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0bcbf2e055f438b99e74723e813aef0d222655ab668cab6ddbf00c299d6e245d&width=400&height=225)
![Faida is the first of five parks the regional authorities hope to create.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XNGS7Z6GKP5KOIMIGF63N6EHKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffe711add42191c436a1c738e8e4a13c69bb15b863b3b38d20d47959735761c0&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Bonacossi, a professor at the Italian University of Udine and co-director of an excavation team, speaks about the carved plaque.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7HMVWBS4HWHE3Z5OELRDQSUJW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=78d899380094f22298bd544c4a9411c196d78eaa48b7c790bb811c5b93b34963&width=400&height=225)
![The 13 stunning monumental rock-carved bas-reliefs were cut into the walls of an irrigation canal that stretches for 10 kilometres.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCQU66QBYAAGJCPCIWXZGMPA74.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3159307b57e40471b9da8e582977035ad786944642ea4484af8ce66d62f77e6&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Greganti looks at one of the carved plaques, which measure five metres wide and two metres tall.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCJOXPE4CUH5S2FL6QP7VS2TI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=140b1aed88b089bd82c657bd9e2953cf0335a13299b236b37bac1507a38b9935&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Brefkany, director of antiquities for the Dohuk Governorate, speaks at the opening.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FTVLVY6QIYDOLCDTTYOXEEXPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=089dc5506b346443d2ee69a81316de00fa83c869c32eb46d53760a1c714c7775&width=400&height=225)
![A tour is conducted during the opening of the first phase of the planned Faida archaeological park in Iraqi Kurdistan. All photos: AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5G7FF6BMB5GI6XWBLML3ZSW2QE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0f6b27a0f279259b632fe887788985a1e7c34715dd9e2e2ba2079a2aa6960929&width=400&height=225)
![A series of carved plaques lining an ancient irrigation canal are the central finds at the site.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6HLKGCPQ7VPB645WM2EMSANNOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b30bf5d398c65c113069c194ed28ffc5c59a74bd90b6827085c6c5978a2be248&width=400&height=225)
![The canal dates back to Assyrian times, specifically the reigns of Sargon II (721-705 BC) and his son Sennacherib.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2GGAT2YPGTEJZ57FDYLYJIN47Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=f014356845038822a469cd9b5b51972edfd6f48b4a614d233423bfb42d7835a7&width=400&height=225)
![Italian archaeologist Daniele Morandi Bonacossi, left, Italian ambassador in Iraq Maurizio Greganti, third left, Governor of Dohuk Ali Tatar, centre, Bishop of the Chaldean Diocese of Alqosh Mar Boulos Thabet, second right, and Director of Antiquities of Dohuk Governorate Bekas Brefkany, right, take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the first phase.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JEBPJACY36IZ3KZYZZVTUSRQK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=544d7da321d70d5d6e28734bf096c5824ef66365133c0ec84d46bb41ea4bd7e9&width=400&height=225)
![An aerial picture shows a view of a dig revealing an ancient irrigation canal lined with rock carvings dating back to Assyrian times, in the archaeological site of Faydeh (Faida) in the mountains near the town of the same name in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, on October 16, 2022, during the opening of the first phase of a planned archaeological park in Iraqi Kurdistan. (Photo by Ismael ADNAN / AFP)](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I3MJM5CSQGD2CYBHAGIAYZWYOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a93d548adf9f6f09a32886104515953ec2c87074d2f55ea3a4bf7d940163f369&width=400&height=225)
![The Faida site is in mountains near the town of the same name in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TSS3DPT6EUXRVOWIDFHNPU3YBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0bcbf2e055f438b99e74723e813aef0d222655ab668cab6ddbf00c299d6e245d&width=400&height=225)
![Faida is the first of five parks the regional authorities hope to create.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XNGS7Z6GKP5KOIMIGF63N6EHKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffe711add42191c436a1c738e8e4a13c69bb15b863b3b38d20d47959735761c0&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Bonacossi, a professor at the Italian University of Udine and co-director of an excavation team, speaks about the carved plaque.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7HMVWBS4HWHE3Z5OELRDQSUJW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=78d899380094f22298bd544c4a9411c196d78eaa48b7c790bb811c5b93b34963&width=400&height=225)
![The 13 stunning monumental rock-carved bas-reliefs were cut into the walls of an irrigation canal that stretches for 10 kilometres.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCQU66QBYAAGJCPCIWXZGMPA74.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3159307b57e40471b9da8e582977035ad786944642ea4484af8ce66d62f77e6&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Greganti looks at one of the carved plaques, which measure five metres wide and two metres tall.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCJOXPE4CUH5S2FL6QP7VS2TI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=140b1aed88b089bd82c657bd9e2953cf0335a13299b236b37bac1507a38b9935&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Brefkany, director of antiquities for the Dohuk Governorate, speaks at the opening.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FTVLVY6QIYDOLCDTTYOXEEXPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=089dc5506b346443d2ee69a81316de00fa83c869c32eb46d53760a1c714c7775&width=400&height=225)
Archaeological site in Iraq that dates back 2,700 years becomes heritage park
Area in Faida is made up of 13 monumental rock carved walls portraying the rule of the Assyrians
![Mina Aldroubi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F48481d72-67cc-4a04-b275-155199d827d0.png?smart=true&auth=96cfe1b4f5fdcd35f4d973dfd9dd3dc13e3b30b54a8e526b78eab5e8deef7736&width=70&height=70)
Mina Aldroubi
October 17, 2022
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October 17, 2022