US Spy Satellite Imagery Helps Archaeologists Find Ancient Battlefield [Video]

With the help of declassified images collected by United States spy satellites, a team of researchers from Durham University in the United Kingdom and the University of al-Qadisiyyah in Iraq have identified the site of one of the most important battles in the history of the Islamic world.

Based on a careful analysis of this satellite data, the researchers believe that the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah, which took place around the year 636, was fought approximately 19 miles (31 km) south of Kufa, in Iraq’s Najaf governorate.

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In Search of the Legendary Battle of al-Qadisiyyah

In this legendary battle for territory and political control, the Arab Muslims of the Rashidun Caliphate, who were led by hand-picked successors to Muhammed,  soundly defeated the forces of the Sasanian Empire that had previously ruled ancient Persia. In the seventh and eighth centuries conquests like these hastened the spread of …