Kisurra (modern Tell Abu Hatab, Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate, Iraq) was an ancient Sumerian tell (hill city) situated on the west bank of the Euphrates, 7 km north of Shuruppak and due east of Kish.

History

The site has an area of about 46 hectares which is primarily Ur III and a northern extension of about 17 hectares which is primarily Early Dynastic II-III.

Early Bronze

Kisurra was established ca. 2700 BC, during the Sumerian Early Dynastic II period. The southern end of the Isinnitum Canal was joined back into the Euphrates at Kisurra. The city lasted as a center for commerce and transport through the Akkadian, Ur III. Several kings of Kisurra are known: Itur-Szamasz (who built the temples of Annunitum, Enki, and Adad), Manabaltiel (who built the temple of Ninurta and was a contemporary of Ur-Ninurta of Isin), Szarrasyurrum, Ubaya, Zikrum, Bur-Sin, and Ibbi-Szamasz.

Middle Bronze

The city continued to flourish into the Middle Bronze. The Larsa ruler Rim-Sin (1822 to 1763 BC) reports capturing Kisurra in his 20th year of reign.

Babylonian Period

Cuneiform texts and excavation show a decline during the time of the Babylonian ruler Hammurabi (c.1792-1750 BC). The Samsu-iluna (1750 BC to 1712 BC), successor to Hammurabi, reports destroying Kisurra in his 13th year.

Archaeology

German archaeologist Robert Koldewey with the Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft, who excavated at the site in 1902-1903, found many cuneiform tablets from Tell Abu Hatab. In 2016 the QADIS survey project, carried out an aerial and surface survey of the site.

List of rulers

The following list should not be considered complete: