After centuries lost beneath layers of sand, war, and shifting rivers, an ancient city once central to East-West trade has resurfaced. A team of international researchers has confirmed the rediscovery of Alexandria on the Tigris, a major port city founded by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC to support maritime commerce between Mesopotamia and India.
Located near the junction of the Tigris and Karun rivers, the city was built just under two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Persian Gulf’s ancient shoreline.
Its strategic placement allowed it to thrive as a trade link connecting inland Mesopotamia with distant regions, including India, Afghanistan, and China. Over time, the city became known as Charax Spasinou, but its exact location remained unknown until now.
Modern clues surface through aerial photography
The first modern evidence appeared in the 1960s when British researcher John Hansman identified potential settlement patterns in aerial images.
However, political conflict along the Iran-Iraq border halted further work. The area, now referred to as Jebel Khayyaber, was later used as a military camp during the Iran-Iraq War.
🚨 Rediscovered after centuries: Alexandria on the Tigris, a lost city founded by Alexander the Great, once powered ancient trade between Mesopotamia and India. Archaeologists uncover its secrets. 🌍🏛️#AlexandriaOnTheTigris #Archaeology #AlexanderTheGreat #Mesopotamia pic.twitter.com/jlrDBphUjB
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) February 2, 2026
Excavations resumed in 2014 when British archaeologists, guided by local officials, visited the site near the ruins of Ur. Despite heavy security, they were surprised by what they found: massive city walls extending for miles and rising as high as eight meters (26 feet) in some areas.
Mapping the structure of a lost port city
By 2016, the University of Konstanz’s Stefan Hauser, a leading specialist in Hellenistic archaeology, joined the project. Hauser and his team conducted extensive surveys on foot, covering more than 500 kilometers (310 miles).
They used drones to map the terrain and cesium magnetometers to detect the layout without excavation. Their research revealed a grid-like city plan with residential blocks, canals, temples, workshops, and even a palace complex.
Hauser explained that the city was carefully planned to mirror Alexandria in Egypt. Both were built at intersections of river and sea trade routes, acting as gateways between inland empires and global markets. For over five centuries, Alexandria on the Tigris served as a crucial node in ancient long-distance trade.
Decline and legacy of Alexandria on the Tigris
The city began to decline when the Tigris River gradually shifted west. By the third century CE, both the river and the Persian Gulf had moved far south, leaving the city stranded and economically isolated. Eventually, it was abandoned, and its role was later taken up by modern-day Basra.
Backed by support from the Gerda Henkel Foundation, German Research Foundation, and British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund, new excavations are planned. Hauser believes the site still holds valuable insights into ancient global trade networks and urban development.
