ERBIL () — Preliminary examinations of a rare fossil weighing more than 350 kilograms and discovered near Erbil’s Rawanduz district indicate that it could date back between 66 million and 145 million years, according to the Soran Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage.
The fossil was discovered by a local resident in Barsirin village, Rawanduz district, within the Soran Independent Administration. It has since been transferred to the Soran Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage for preservation and further scientific research.
Abdulwahab Sulaiman, director of the Soran Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage, described the object as an extremely rare fossil, measuring approximately 1.2 meters in length and 45 centimeters in height and weighing more than 350 kilograms.
Sulaiman said it is the first fossil of its type and size discovered in the Kurdistan Region, adding that further scientific examination is needed to determine its exact age and characteristics.
Shaduman Barsirini, a resident of Barsirin village and the fossil’s discoverer, said the object was initially found on the bank of a river.
“We found the stone on the bank of the river. We don't know if it originated in the area or was carried there by rising river waters. Because it was beautiful and eye-catching, we took it home to use as a decoration,” Barsirini said.
The Rawanduz district administration, in coordination with the Soran Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage, facilitated the fossil’s transfer to ensure its preservation and allow specialists to conduct further research.
The discovery could open new opportunities for geological and scientific research into the natural history of the Soran area and potentially strengthen the region’s significance as a destination for archaeology and tourism.
Soran is home to more than 1,200 documented archaeological sites and has attracted international archaeological research into its mountain valleys and caves.
Among its best-known sites is Shanidar Cave, where researchers have discovered the remains of 11 Neanderthals dating back roughly 35,000 to 75,000 years. Palingan Cave in the Khalifan district has also revealed evidence of human occupation dating back around 20,000 years, while Ashkawta Rash, or the Black Cave, near Soran has been studied for its distinctive geo-archaeological layers.
