Archaeologists affirm location of misplaced metropolis based by Alexander the Nice

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Archaeologists have confirmed the placement of a long-lost metropolis based by Alexander the Great — a once-thriving commerce hub that is been hidden for hundreds of years.

The traditional metropolis, generally known as Alexandria on the Tigris, is situated in southern Iraq , close to the Persian Gulf.

It was based within the fourth century B.C. as a port metropolis linking commerce from India to Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean world. It fell into obscurity after the third century A.D., when the trail of the Tigris shifted.

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Over the previous few years, researchers have mapped town's fortification partitions, avenue grids and metropolis blocks, because of drone imagery and high-resolution geophysical scans.

Archaeologists have labored on the website because the 2010s, a time when ISIS exerted management over Iraq — however it wasn't till now that the complete scale of the misplaced metropolis was revealed.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/343/192/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/686/384/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> Archaeologists have confirmed the placement of Alexandria on the Tigris, a metropolis based by Alexander the Nice in 324 B.C. close to what's now southern Iraq. (Bettman through Getty Photographs; Charax Spasinou Challenge (Stuart Campbell 2017))

The College of Konstanz in Germany, in a Jan. 28 press launch, mentioned excavators have been "solely allowed to conduct floor surveys below the shut supervision of both troopers or cops."

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Researchers recognized temple complexes, workshops with kilns and furnaces and the stays of town's harbor and canal system.

The town had been "repeatedly flooded," however it was miraculously well-preserved, mentioned Stefan R. Hauser, an archaeology professor on the College of Konstanz.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/343/192/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/686/384/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> The practically untouched website affords what researchers name a uncommon likelihood to reconstruct a complete historical metropolis plan. (Charax Spasinou Challenge 2016 (Jörg Fassbinder))

Hauser advised Fox Information Digital that, like its extra well-known counterpart in Egypt , Alexandria on the Tigris was based at a crossroads between river and sea.

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The town was based at a time when a brand new harbor for commerce with India was desperately wanted in southern Mesopotamia.

Hauser mentioned Alexander the Nice personally selected the location in 324 B.C., citing the writer Pliny the Elder, who relied on older sources.

"The standard of the geophysical proof is totally gorgeous… The preservation of buildings is surprisingly good."

Alexander, the Macedonian chief who conquered the Persian Empire, was drawn to the location by the strategic river location.

The archaeologist mentioned he was shocked by town's measurement at 2.5 sq. miles, which he known as "huge for an historical metropolis."

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"The dimensions of town blocks is extraordinary," he mentioned. "It surpasses even these of the foremost capitals of the time, like Seleucia on the Tigris or Alexandria on the Nile."

Hauser added, "The standard of the geophysical proof is totally gorgeous… The preservation of buildings is surprisingly good, and we began figuring out the partitions instantly beneath the floor, which additionally accounts for the nice leads to geophysical exploration ."

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/343/192/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/686/384/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-5.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> Students say town was based at a important crossroads between river and sea, serving to anchor commerce routes by the Persian Gulf. (Charax Spasinou Challenge 2022 (Robert Killick))

Hauser mentioned the analysis started in 2016 below British archaeologists Jane Moon, Robert Killick and Stuart Campbell, whom he credited with launching the venture.

Excavating the location was a problem, he mentioned, as summer time temperatures rise above 120 levels Fahrenheit. As well as, the final space suffers from air air pollution.

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The staff of researchers plans to research town's quarter and its workshops and kilns sooner or later, pending funding.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/343/192/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/686/384/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> "We began figuring out the partitions instantly beneath the floor," mentioned an archaeology professor. (Charax Spasinou Challenge (Stuart Campbell 2017))

Hauser pressured that the location might shed new mild on the Parthian Empire , which managed town centuries after Alexander's conquest. He described the empire as one among antiquity's most understudied powers.

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"There may be not a single helpful abstract [of] its historical past, construction and tradition," mentioned Hauser.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/343/192/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/686/384/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/alexander-the-great-lost-city-found-archaeology-history-discovery-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> A medieval depiction of Alexander the Nice crossing the Tigris, seen above, showcases the legacy of the Macedonian ruler who based Alexandria on the Tigris within the fourth century B.C. (Artwork Photographs through Getty Photographs)

The positioning is "significantly effectively fitted to this sort of analysis, as a result of there was no later constructing exercise since antiquity," he added.

"We now have the practically distinctive likelihood to reconstruct a complete metropolis plan [through] geophysical analysis, and presently hope to finish geophysics this 12 months."