Mitani city revealed due to drought

[davidb]

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/drought-in-iraq-reveals-3400-year-old-city-180980188/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=632023&utm_content=archival

[DBS]

The 100 clay tablets could be the real prize here, even if just routine administrative records.

Whilst not disputing the problems with the drought, low water levels in the reservoir may have been a blessing.  Saddam did not do the best job in building the Mosul Dam, no surprise there, and when Daesh kicked off in 2014, they interrupted some desperate work to stabilise the structure in the short term and make it much safer for the long haul.  I don't know how much progress has been made since Daesh were defeated, but lower water levels for a period will not have hurt; if the dam had gone, the flooding would have been devastating all the way to Baghdad.