00:00Archaeologists in southern Iraq are uncovering a bridge built about 3,800 years ago.
00:05It sits in the ancient city of Larsa, a major Babylonian power center.
00:10The bridge crossed the Great Canal, a waterway about 22 meters wide.
00:14It linked the two banks right through the middle of the city.
00:17Its sturdy piers are made of fired brick.
00:20One brick carries the name of King Sin Edenum.
00:22He ruled Larsa from 1849 to 1843 BCE and prized canals and water projects.
00:29That inscription helps date at least one phase of construction.
00:33The bridge was built and renovated in several stages over time.
00:36A French team, working with Iraqi experts, first spotted it in 2019.
00:41So far, they've uncovered about half of the structure.
00:45Researchers have also mapped hundreds of canals in and around Larsa.
00:49The rest of the bridge may reveal how ancient engineers kept the city moving.
00:53Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
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