Adab
Country: Iraq
Region: Middle East
Period: ~2600-2000BCE
Location: 31.94725°N, 45.62625°E
Description
Arrapkha was an ancient Mesopotamian city located near modern-day Kirkuk in northern Iraq. During the late 3rd millennium BCE, it came under the influence of the Gutians, a mountain people from the Zagros who intermittently ruled over parts of Mesopotamia. Arrapkha functioned as a key administrative and military center during this period of Gutian dominance.
Modern Remains
Modern Kirkuk sits atop the ruins of ancient Arrapkha. While extensive modern development has limited archaeological access, past finds include remnants of city walls, pottery, and cuneiform tablets. These suggest a long history of occupation and highlight Arrapkha’s significance as a cultural and political hub from the Gutian era through the Assyrian and later empires.