• Declassified U.S. spy satellite images have enabled archaeologists to pinpoint the 1,400-year-old battlefield of al-Qadisiyyah.
• Researchers identified the site through historical records and modern imagery, confirming remnants such as a 6-mile-long wall and a moat.
A groundbreaking analysis of declassified U.S. spy satellite images has led archaeologists to the lost site of the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah, a significant confrontation in early Islamic history. Captured in 1973 by the KH-9 Hexagon system, the images revealed remnants of the 1,400-year-old site, enabling researchers to identify the battlefield’s precise location near modern-day Kufa in Iraq’s Najaf Governorate. Their findings, published on November 12 in the journal Antiquity, mark a significant milestone in historical and archaeological research. Moreover, they definitively reinforce a pivotal chapter in Islamic history.
The Battle of al-Qadisiyyah, fought in A.D. 636 or 637, saw the Arab Muslim army achieve a decisive victory over the Sasanian Empire, a dominant dynasty that ruled present-day Iran from A.D. 224 to 651. As referenced in Encyclopedia Britannica, the triumph was a critical step in the Muslim conquest of Persia and remains a key episode in understanding early Islam.
Lead author William Deadman, an archaeologist at Durham University in the U.K., and his team, however, had not initially set out to locate this historic battlefield. Their research focused on examining the Hajj pilgrimage route known as Darb Zubaydah, a corridor that connected Kufa, Iraq, to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This route, central to pilgrimage activities during the Abbasid Caliphate (A.D. 750–850), is under review for UNESCO World Heritage status.
While analysing the declassified imagery, they noticed features aligning with historical descriptions of al-Qadisiyyah. Ancient texts described the site as being “south of a body of water, between [a] moat and a bridged stream,” and mentioned a 6-mile-long wall linking the town to a neighbouring area. Using these clues, Deadman identified a modern agricultural field that matched these descriptions.
An on-site survey confirmed their findings. The researchers identified remnants of the 6-mile-long wall, the moat to the town’s north, a deep trench, fortresses, and the remains of a river that reportedly played a significant role in the battle. Pottery shards and other artifacts further confirmed the detailed historical accounts.
“This discovery provides a geographical location and context for a battle that is one of the founding stories of the expansion of Islam into modern day Iraq, Iran and beyond,” Deadman stated in a press release.
This site, once part of ancient Mesopotamia, was the battleground for the Muslim forces of the Rashidun Caliphate. The resounding victory of the Muslims, not only marked the collapse of Sasanian power but also laid the foundation for the spread of Islam into Persia and beyond.
The Sasanian Empire, renowned for its administrative sophistication and social stratification, ultimately succumbed to the superior strategy and military prowess of the Rashidun forces. The Muslim army employed innovative tactics, including flanking manoeuvres and mounted archery, which contributed significantly to their victory.
The rediscovery of the al-Qadisiyyah battlefield offers new insights into the region’s rich and Islamic history. By blending ancient records with cutting-edge technology, this research illuminates a crucial moment that shaped the course of history.
