[Cet article a initialement été publié le 15 novembre 2024]
The recent archaeological discoveries on the precise location of the battle of al-Qadisiyyah, one of the most decisive clashes in Islamic history, offer unprecedented light on the dynamics of Muslim expansion of the 7th century. By relying on American satellite images declassified from the 1970s, a team of researchers from the University of Durham and the University of Al-Qadisiyah in Iraq identified the vestiges of this battle which opposed the Arab-Muslim troops to the Sassanid forces in current southern Iraq.
Published in the Revue Antiquity, this research is part of the project to protect archaeological sites in danger in the Middle East and North Africa, Eamena, and revives a historically crucial site, formerly estimated not found. These strategic remains highlight the military and cultural context that has shaped this region of the world.
The battle of al-Qadisiyyah: a historic turning point in Iraq
The battle of al-Qadisiyyah took place between 636 and 637 AD. It marks a major turning point in military and political history of the Middle East. Indeed, she opposed the Arab-Muslim army, led by General Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas, to the forces of the Sassanid Empire, then one of the most formidable powers in the region. Although largely lower in number, Muslim fighters demonstrated remarkable resilience and military strategy. They managed to undo the Sassanid troops. This victory opened the way to Islamic expansion beyond the Arabian peninsula. It thus initiates a deep transformation of geopolitics into Mesopotamia and Persia.
Beyond its military scope, al-Qadisiyyah also has significant symbolic meaning. By sealing the gradual fall of the Sassanid Empire, this battle enabled the establishment of Islam in a region formerly dominated by the Zoroastrians. According to Dr. Mustafa Baig, a specialist in Islamic studies, this victory embodies a “decisive moment” in history, not only by its impact on the Sassanid decline, but also by the rise of a new cultural and religious era. It thus remains inscribed in the Islamic collective memory as a founding milestone of the Muslim conquest. She favored an expansion that was going to durably redraw the cultural and political landscape of the ancient East.
A cutting -edge methodology: crossing of texts and satellite imaging
Dr. William Deadman, an archaeological remote sensing expert, conducted methodical research within the framework of the Eamena project, an initiative aimed at documenting the archaeological sites threatened in the Middle East and North Africa. This study focused on the pilgrimage route of the DARB Zubaydah connecting KUFA to Mecca. She involved an in-depth analysis of the satellite images declassified KH-9, captured by American-spy satellites from the 1970s. These images, of great precision, made it possible to reveal landscape and architectural characteristics disappeared or invisible to the naked eye.
The team tried to cross -check this visual data with historical accounts detailing the structures and benchmarks of the pilgrimage route. Finally, they succeeded in identifying elements in accordance with descriptions of fortifications and ancient stopover points. This allowed a potential geographic location of the battle of al-Qadisiyyah, 30 km south of Koufa, Iraq.
KH9 imaging of 1973 of the main characteristics discovered. © WM Deadman et al., 2024
Thanks to this combined approach to spatial imaging and historical text sources, the team was able to map a double wall of almost ten kilometers. It linked a military complex to a notable settlement area. This wall, visible in the KH-9 images, corresponds to specific historical mentions. They describe defense and control installations on the edge of the desert and the Mesopotamian plain. Experts thus validated the hypothesis that these defensive structures belonged to a Sassanide fortified network used to protect the communication axes and control the southern borders of the Empire.
Discovery of key structures: the strategic points of the battlefield unveiled in Iraq
In the field, the validation work carried out by Iraqi researchers was essential to confirm the interpretations of the Dr. Deadman team. They were able to identify strategic crossing points along the Darb Zubaydah road, including the sites of Al-Qadisiyyah and Al-'udhayb. These two localities, located in the province of Najaf south of Kufa, correspond to the judgments mentioned in historical sources as key points for the army on the move, which reinforces their importance in the context of the battle of al-Qadisiyyah. Local researchers also highlighted the walls and ditches on the spot.
Likely location of the battle of al-Qadisiyyah. © WM Deadman et al., 2024
These walls are partly eroded. With these ditches surrounding the fortress of Al-'udhayb, they give a concrete overview of the defensive devices elaborate. They had to secure the region against incursions. Al-'udhayb, in particular, with its triple enclosure visible on the KH-9 images, embodies a striking example of Sassanid fortification. They show how the defenders structured their positions around water points or canals. According to Dr. Deadman, finding such precise correspondence between ancient texts and physical vestiges on the ground is “extremely rare in archeology”.
Archaeological perspectives and cultural importance
The Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa (Eamena) project, launched in 2015 and funded by the Arcadia Foundation, is dedicated to the documentation and preservation of archaeological sites threatened by various factors, including urban expansion, intensive agriculture and armed conflicts. It is based on international collaboration between several universities, notably Durham, Oxford and Leicester. He uses advanced technologies, such as satellite imagery and remote sensing, to identify, document and assess the sites at risk.
For Eamena, the documentation of historical sites like that of Al-Qadisiyyah, in Iraq, remains crucial. Whether for archeology but also for the protection of cultural heritage. Especially in regions subject to instability. Despite the geopolitical challenges braking excavations, the researchers remain committed. They hope to deepen their research on site, in particular by analyzing the structure and age of the vestiges. Their goal is to better understand the military and cultural organization of the time. But above all they want to raise awareness of the threats that weigh on this fragile heritage.
Source: Deadman WM, Jotheri J, Hopper K, Almayali R, al-Luhaibi AA, Crane A. “Locating al-Qadisiyyah: mapping Iraq's Most Famous Early Islamic Conquest Site”. Antiquity. Published Online 2024: 1-8. DOI: 10.15184/AQY.2024.185
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