Just two months ago, local Iraqis celebrated the reopening of Ashur, singing and dancing in traditional regalia. Modern-day Assyrians and other citizens of Iraq passed through the Tabira Gate, many of whom had fled their homes after the onslaught of Isis. The festivities paid homage to the spring processions that took place in the city thousands of years ago.

More than 5,000 years ago, the ancient city of Ashur was built on the banks of the Tigris River. It was once the powerhouse of the Assyrian empire. Ashur has faced destruction twice. The first time was in 600 BCE by Babylonian forces; the second was at the hands of Isis in 2015.

After emergency restoration work, the UNESCO World Heritage site reopened to visitors on 1 April. Just as Ashur experiences a rebirth, it faces a new threat.

About 25 miles away is the site of the Makhoul Dam, where construction began in April 2021. The current plans for the dam threaten to flood the city of Ashur.

The Iraqi NGO Liwan claim that rising river water could drown more than 200 heritage sites in the heartland of Assyrian civilization and displace up to 250,000 people. Heritage professionals are negotiating with the Iraqi government to help prevent the destruction of ancient moments, as well as the lives of those that live close by.