The six ancient cities that archaeologists have yet to unearth or locate
The lost corners of ancient civilizations that time has hidden and that continue to fascinate researchers.
There are many cities that archaeologists have never been able to locate, including capitals of major kingdoms and empires. A Live Science article revisits six of these lost places whose existence is known only through ancient written sources.
What all these cities share is that they are described in historical texts, yet their exact locations have been lost over time, leaving scholars to piece together clues from tablets, chronicles and inscriptions.
Where are the six missing ancient cities?
Isiasagrig
This city came to light shortly after the US invasion of Iraq, when thousands of ancient tablets were discovered mentioning it. Researchers concluded that Isiasagrig was located in what is now Iraq about 4,000 years ago, and the texts reveal that its rulers lived in large palaces filled with dogs.
The tablets also describe a palace dedicated to Enki, the god of magic and wisdom, where festivals were sometimes held. Scholars believe the city may have been looted during the 2003 invasion. Its precise location remains unknown.
Itjtawy
Built by the Egyptian pharaoh Amenemhat, this city was intended as a new capital named Itjtawy, meaning “The conqueror of the Two Lands.” Although the pharaoh was assassinated, the city remained Egypt’s capital until around 1640 BC.
It has never been found, but archaeologists believe it stood near Lisht, in central Egypt, based on textual and archaeological clues from the surrounding area.
Akkad
Akkad was the capital of the Akkadian Empire, which existed between 2350 and 2150 BC and stretched from the Persian Gulf to Anatolia. One of its most important structures was the Eulmash, a temple dedicated to Ishtar, goddess of war, beauty and fertility.
Despite its historical importance, the city has never been located. Ancient records suggest it was destroyed or abandoned at the fall of the Akkadian Empire around 2150 BC.
Al-Yahudu
The name of this place means “the town or city of Judah,” and it belonged to the Babylonian Empire. Its existence is known from about 200 tablets that reference the settlement. Archaeologists have yet to pinpoint its exact location, although it is thought to have been somewhere in present-day Iraq.
This assumption is based on the fact that the tablets surfaced in antiquities markets in the region, rather than through controlled excavations.
Waššukanni
Waššukanni was the capital of the Mitanni Empire, which flourished roughly between 1550 BC and 1300 BC. Like the other cities on this list, it has never been conclusively identified, though it is believed to have been located in northwestern Syria.
Ancient texts indicate that its inhabitants spoke their own language and were known as the Hurrians, a culturally distinct people in the ancient Near East.
Thinis
Thinis was an ancient Egyptian city that thrived at the very beginning of Egyptian civilization. According to Manetho, an ancient writer, it was the seat of power for some of Egypt’s earliest kings around 5,000 years ago.
Although it has never been identified archaeologically, scholars believe it was located near Abydos in southern Egypt, where many elite figures – including royalty – were buried.
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