Diyala Governorate is located in eastern Iraq, 57 km from the capital, Baghdad, to the north. It consists of six districts, the centre of which is the Baquba district, in addition to the districts of Muqdadiyah, Baladruz, Khalis, Khanaqin, and Kifri. The Diyala River passes through it, which flows from two branches, one from inside Iranian territory and the other from inside Iraq. The governorate's climate is characterized by being hot in summer and cold in winter. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the governorate and contains many different orchards and forests and is famous for citrus cultivation. The dams that built on the Tigris River in the governorate and still working to regulate water releases for drinking and household uses, irrigating agricultural lands and generating electric power are (Hamrin, Alwand, Diyala and Al-Adeem).

Description of the nominated structure

The archaeological Al-Adhem Dam was built on the Al-Adhem River, and its construction dates back to the Sassanid era (637-226) Before Christ. The length of the dam is 225 m, and consists of a wall staged from the back in the manner of the supporting walls to resist the pressure of the water that gathers in front of the dam. The width of the wall is 11 meters at the bottom and narrows gradually to become 6 m at the top; its height is 12 m. As for its length between the two banks, about 140 m, the water drained about 60 m of it from the middle section, i.e. in the middle of the river. As for the material from which it was created, it is the sandstone found in Mount Hamrin at the site of the dam. The stones were cut in lengths ranging between (1.4) m, width (0.45-0.60) m, and thickness (0.35) m. It is inferred from the remains of the mortar that was used. Among the stones, they consist of a mixture of plaster, lime, and fine gravel. The river water was diverted after the construction of the dam into two branches, one of which branches from the right bank of the river at the front of the dam towards Salah al-Din Governorate and is known as the river of al-Bit and extends parallel to al Adhem river until its end near Samarra.

Several branches branch off from its right bank to irrigate the agricultural lands around it. From the left side of the dam, the second branch is called the Rothan River and extends to the east until it ends near Al-Khalis. One of the most important cities that was irrigated by this river is the ruins known today as (Tulul Al-Atwaniyat), which are the remains of huge brick buildings east of the Baghdad-Kirkuk governorate road, which is adjacent to a wide valley called abiter. These cities were the largest parts of Iraq in production, thanks to the dam on the Al-Adhem River. The left side of the dam had a huge regulator consisting of (4) huge supports, with a height of (4.2 m), a thickness of (4.5 m) and a length of (10.5) m; still, its remains constitute part of the construction of the dam itself. This regulator was built from proud stone and Al-Noura mortar and one of its openings was blocked from the left side by a sandstone building with which it was built. There is an arrow of stones above the regulator in the same way that the dam was built. This indicates that the regulator is a part of the dam, and they were built at the same time.

The structure represents a milestone / turning points in development of irrigated agriculture and bears an exceptional testimony to development of agriculture and increase in food production along with the improvement of economic condition of farmers;

- The dam was used to store water and irrigate agricultural lands

Al-Adhem Dam is considered the oldest archaeological dam in Diyala Governorate, located 150 km northeast of Baghdad and 2 km south of the modern Al-Adhem Dam. The purpose of its establishment was to irrigate the vast areas of agricultural land on both sides of the governorates of Diyala and Salah al-Din, whose area is estimated at 250000 ha, through two wide streams (Al-Bit and Al-Rothan), in addition to securing water in front of the dam with a depth of two meters from the level of the top of the dams and the storage of (7) million cubic meters of them. The streams branching from the Al-Adhem Dam in the Sassanid and Islamic eras were called AlRathanin, as the upper Rathan is the Al-Bit River, and the lower Rathan is the section that irrigated the Al-Rothan River.

- The dam is a cultural and historical heritage:

Al-Adhem Dam is one of the prominent archaeological sites in the Diyala Governorate. It represents the second oldest archaeological dam in Iraq after the Sennacherib Dam in Wadi Khans near Mosul Governorate and the oldest irrigation project in Diyala Governorate. The dam was built on the Al-Adhem River, known as cuneiform sources (Rdanu), Aramaic (Radan) and Arabic sources (Al Rathan). The lands that were irrigated by Al-Adhem Dam were known in the Sassanid era as “Kora Shad Hormuz” or “Tusuja Al-Rathanin”, as they irrigated the wide area on both sides of the Adhem River, known today as Khan Al-Ghurfa on the eastern side and Al-Aith land on the western side. The dam is a witness to the great awareness of the ancient Iraqi man to protect his cities from the dangers of torrential rains and floods. The idea of constructing the current Al-Adhem Dam in 1990 is a revival of the idea of the old  Iraqi engineers built the archaeological Al-Adhem Dam after studying the topography of the area and the water level and making the most of the water in agriculture. The remnants of the current dam are represented on the left side of the dam with a length of (48) m, and it consists of 4 oval pillars (3), which are visible between two openings. Small bricks were used with dimensions of 20 * 20 * 6 cm; the length of one pillar is 10.5 m in width and 4.5 m in width. The opening between one pillar and another is 225 cm on the right side, and they are built over a rocky tooth. As for the central part of the dam, part of it was destroyed due to various factors. The oldest reference to the site goes back to the trip of Joseph Rousseau in 1834, as well as the traveller Felix Jones.

The structure made outstanding contribution to enhancing food production, livelihood opportunities, rural prosperity, and poverty alleviation in a region;

- The dam was used to store water and irrigate agricultural lands

Al-Adhem Dam is considered the oldest archaeological dam in Diyala Governorate, located 150 km northeast of Baghdad and 2 km south of the modern Al-Adhem Dam. The purpose of its establishment was to irrigate the vast areas of agricultural land on both sides of the governorates of Diyala and Salah al-Din, whose area is estimated at 250000 ha, through two wide streams (Al-Bit and Al-Rothan), in addition to securing water in front of the dam with a depth of two meters from the level of the top of the dams and the storage of (7) million cubic meters of them. The streams branching from the Al-Adhem Dam in the Sassanid and Islamic eras were called AlRathanin, as the upper Rathan is the Al-Bit River, and the lower Rathan is the section that irrigated the Al-Rothan River.

- The dam is a cultural and historical heritage:

Al-Adhem Dam is one of the prominent archaeological sites in the Diyala Governorate. It represents the second oldest archaeological dam in Iraq after the Sennacherib Dam in Wadi Khans near Mosul Governorate and the oldest irrigation project in Diyala Governorate. The dam was built on the Al-Adhem River, known as cuneiform sources (Rdanu), Aramaic (Radan) and Arabic sources (Al Rathan). The lands that were irrigated by Al-Adhem Dam were known in the Sassanid era as “Kora Shad Hormuz” or “Tusuja Al-Rathanin”, as they irrigated the wide area on both sides of the Adhem River, known today as Khan Al-Ghurfa on the eastern side and Al-Aith land on the western side. The dam is a witness to the great awareness of the ancient Iraqi man to protect his cities from the dangers of torrential rains and floods. The idea of constructing the current Al-Adhem Dam in 1990 is a revival of the idea of the old  Iraqi engineers built the archaeological Al-Adhem Dam after studying the topography of the area and the water level and making the most of the water in agriculture. The remnants of the current dam are represented on the left side of the dam with a length of (48) m, and it consists of 4 oval pillars (3), which are visible between two openings. Small bricks were used with dimensions of 20 * 20 * 6 cm; the length of one pillar is 10.5 m in width and 4.5 m in width. The opening between one pillar and another is 225 cm on the right side, and they are built over a rocky tooth. As for the central part of the dam, part of it was destroyed due to various factors. The oldest reference to the site goes back to the trip of Joseph Rousseau in 1834, as well as the traveller Felix Jones.

The structure was innovative in its ideas at the time of its construction;

- The dam was used to store water and irrigate agricultural lands

Al-Adhem Dam is considered the oldest archaeological dam in Diyala Governorate, located 150 km northeast of Baghdad and 2 km south of the modern Al-Adhem Dam. The purpose of its establishment was to irrigate the vast areas of agricultural land on both sides of the governorates of Diyala and Salah al-Din, whose area is estimated at 250000 ha, through two wide streams (Al-Bit and Al-Rothan), in addition to securing water in front of the dam with a depth of two meters from the level of the top of the dams and the storage of (7) million cubic meters of them. The streams branching from the Al-Adhem Dam in the Sassanid and Islamic eras were called AlRathanin, as the upper Rathan is the Al-Bit River, and the lower Rathan is the section that irrigated the Al-Rothan River.

- The dam is a cultural and historical heritage:

Al-Adhem Dam is one of the prominent archaeological sites in the Diyala Governorate. It represents the second oldest archaeological dam in Iraq after the Sennacherib Dam in Wadi Khans near Mosul Governorate and the oldest irrigation project in Diyala Governorate. The dam was built on the Al-Adhem River, known as cuneiform sources (Rdanu), Aramaic (Radan) and Arabic sources (Al Rathan). The lands that were irrigated by Al-Adhem Dam were known in the Sassanid era as “Kora Shad Hormuz” or “Tusuja Al-Rathanin”, as they irrigated the wide area on both sides of the Adhem River, known today as Khan Al-Ghurfa on the eastern side and Al-Aith land on the western side. The dam is a witness to the great awareness of the ancient Iraqi man to protect his cities from the dangers of torrential rains and floods. The idea of constructing the current Al-Adhem Dam in 1990 is a revival of the idea of the old  Iraqi engineers built the archaeological Al-Adhem Dam after studying the topography of the area and the water level and making the most of the water in agriculture. The remnants of the current dam are represented on the left side of the dam with a length of (48) m, and it consists of 4 oval pillars (3), which are visible between two openings. Small bricks were used with dimensions of 20 * 20 * 6 cm; the length of one pillar is 10.5 m in width and 4.5 m in width. The opening between one pillar and another is 225 cm on the right side, and they are built over a rocky tooth. As for the central part of the dam, part of it was destroyed due to various factors. The oldest reference to the site goes back to the trip of Joseph Rousseau in 1834, as well as the traveller Felix Jones.

The structure contributed to the evolution of efficient and contemporary engineering theories and practices;

- The dam was used to store water and irrigate agricultural lands

Al-Adhem Dam is considered the oldest archaeological dam in Diyala Governorate, located 150 km northeast of Baghdad and 2 km south of the modern Al-Adhem Dam. The purpose of its establishment was to irrigate the vast areas of agricultural land on both sides of the governorates of Diyala and Salah al-Din, whose area is estimated at 250000 ha, through two wide streams (Al-Bit and Al-Rothan), in addition to securing water in front of the dam with a depth of two meters from the level of the top of the dams and the storage of (7) million cubic meters of them. The streams branching from the Al-Adhem Dam in the Sassanid and Islamic eras were called AlRathanin, as the upper Rathan is the Al-Bit River, and the lower Rathan is the section that irrigated the Al-Rothan River.

- The dam is a cultural and historical heritage:

Al-Adhem Dam is one of the prominent archaeological sites in the Diyala Governorate. It represents the second oldest archaeological dam in Iraq after the Sennacherib Dam in Wadi Khans near Mosul Governorate and the oldest irrigation project in Diyala Governorate. The dam was built on the Al-Adhem River, known as cuneiform sources (Rdanu), Aramaic (Radan) and Arabic sources (Al Rathan). The lands that were irrigated by Al-Adhem Dam were known in the Sassanid era as “Kora Shad Hormuz” or “Tusuja Al-Rathanin”, as they irrigated the wide area on both sides of the Adhem River, known today as Khan Al-Ghurfa on the eastern side and Al-Aith land on the western side. The dam is a witness to the great awareness of the ancient Iraqi man to protect his cities from the dangers of torrential rains and floods. The idea of constructing the current Al-Adhem Dam in 1990 is a revival of the idea of the old  Iraqi engineers built the archaeological Al-Adhem Dam after studying the topography of the area and the water level and making the most of the water in agriculture. The remnants of the current dam are represented on the left side of the dam with a length of (48) m, and it consists of 4 oval pillars (3), which are visible between two openings. Small bricks were used with dimensions of 20 * 20 * 6 cm; the length of one pillar is 10.5 m in width and 4.5 m in width. The opening between one pillar and another is 225 cm on the right side, and they are built over a rocky tooth. As for the central part of the dam, part of it was destroyed due to various factors. The oldest reference to the site goes back to the trip of Joseph Rousseau in 1834, as well as the traveller Felix Jones.

The structure was an example of engineering marvel or excellence at the time of its construction;

- The dam was used to store water and irrigate agricultural lands

Al-Adhem Dam is considered the oldest archaeological dam in Diyala Governorate, located 150 km northeast of Baghdad and 2 km south of the modern Al-Adhem Dam. The purpose of its establishment was to irrigate the vast areas of agricultural land on both sides of the governorates of Diyala and Salah al-Din, whose area is estimated at 250000 ha, through two wide streams (Al-Bit and Al-Rothan), in addition to securing water in front of the dam with a depth of two meters from the level of the top of the dams and the storage of (7) million cubic meters of them. The streams branching from the Al-Adhem Dam in the Sassanid and Islamic eras were called AlRathanin, as the upper Rathan is the Al-Bit River, and the lower Rathan is the section that irrigated the Al-Rothan River.

- The dam is a cultural and historical heritage:

Al-Adhem Dam is one of the prominent archaeological sites in the Diyala Governorate. It represents the second oldest archaeological dam in Iraq after the Sennacherib Dam in Wadi Khans near Mosul Governorate and the oldest irrigation project in Diyala Governorate. The dam was built on the Al-Adhem River, known as cuneiform sources (Rdanu), Aramaic (Radan) and Arabic sources (Al Rathan). The lands that were irrigated by Al-Adhem Dam were known in the Sassanid era as “Kora Shad Hormuz” or “Tusuja Al-Rathanin”, as they irrigated the wide area on both sides of the Adhem River, known today as Khan Al-Ghurfa on the eastern side and Al-Aith land on the western side. The dam is a witness to the great awareness of the ancient Iraqi man to protect his cities from the dangers of torrential rains and floods. The idea of constructing the current Al-Adhem Dam in 1990 is a revival of the idea of the old  Iraqi engineers built the archaeological Al-Adhem Dam after studying the topography of the area and the water level and making the most of the water in agriculture. The remnants of the current dam are represented on the left side of the dam with a length of (48) m, and it consists of 4 oval pillars (3), which are visible between two openings. Small bricks were used with dimensions of 20 * 20 * 6 cm; the length of one pillar is 10.5 m in width and 4.5 m in width. The opening between one pillar and another is 225 cm on the right side, and they are built over a rocky tooth. As for the central part of the dam, part of it was destroyed due to various factors. The oldest reference to the site goes back to the trip of Joseph Rousseau in 1834, as well as the traveller Felix Jones.

The structure was unique in some positive and constructive way;

- The dam was used to store water and irrigate agricultural lands

Al-Adhem Dam is considered the oldest archaeological dam in Diyala Governorate, located 150 km northeast of Baghdad and 2 km south of the modern Al-Adhem Dam. The purpose of its establishment was to irrigate the vast areas of agricultural land on both sides of the governorates of Diyala and Salah al-Din, whose area is estimated at 250000 ha, through two wide streams (Al-Bit and Al-Rothan), in addition to securing water in front of the dam with a depth of two meters from the level of the top of the dams and the storage of (7) million cubic meters of them. The streams branching from the Al-Adhem Dam in the Sassanid and Islamic eras were called AlRathanin, as the upper Rathan is the Al-Bit River, and the lower Rathan is the section that irrigated the Al-Rothan River.

- The dam is a cultural and historical heritage:

Al-Adhem Dam is one of the prominent archaeological sites in the Diyala Governorate. It represents the second oldest archaeological dam in Iraq after the Sennacherib Dam in Wadi Khans near Mosul Governorate and the oldest irrigation project in Diyala Governorate. The dam was built on the Al-Adhem River, known as cuneiform sources (Rdanu), Aramaic (Radan) and Arabic sources (Al Rathan). The lands that were irrigated by Al-Adhem Dam were known in the Sassanid era as “Kora Shad Hormuz” or “Tusuja Al-Rathanin”, as they irrigated the wide area on both sides of the Adhem River, known today as Khan Al-Ghurfa on the eastern side and Al-Aith land on the western side. The dam is a witness to the great awareness of the ancient Iraqi man to protect his cities from the dangers of torrential rains and floods. The idea of constructing the current Al-Adhem Dam in 1990 is a revival of the idea of the old  Iraqi engineers built the archaeological Al-Adhem Dam after studying the topography of the area and the water level and making the most of the water in agriculture. The remnants of the current dam are represented on the left side of the dam with a length of (48) m, and it consists of 4 oval pillars (3), which are visible between two openings. Small bricks were used with dimensions of 20 * 20 * 6 cm; the length of one pillar is 10.5 m in width and 4.5 m in width. The opening between one pillar and another is 225 cm on the right side, and they are built over a rocky tooth. As for the central part of the dam, part of it was destroyed due to various factors. The oldest reference to the site goes back to the trip of Joseph Rousseau in 1834, as well as the traveller Felix Jones.

The structure bears the stamp of a cultural tradition or a civilization of past;

- The dam was used to store water and irrigate agricultural lands

Al-Adhem Dam is considered the oldest archaeological dam in Diyala Governorate, located 150 km northeast of Baghdad and 2 km south of the modern Al-Adhem Dam. The purpose of its establishment was to irrigate the vast areas of agricultural land on both sides of the governorates of Diyala and Salah al-Din, whose area is estimated at 250000 ha, through two wide streams (Al-Bit and Al-Rothan), in addition to securing water in front of the dam with a depth of two meters from the level of the top of the dams and the storage of (7) million cubic meters of them. The streams branching from the Al-Adhem Dam in the Sassanid and Islamic eras were called AlRathanin, as the upper Rathan is the Al-Bit River, and the lower Rathan is the section that irrigated the Al-Rothan River.

- The dam is a cultural and historical heritage:

Al-Adhem Dam is one of the prominent archaeological sites in the Diyala Governorate. It represents the second oldest archaeological dam in Iraq after the Sennacherib Dam in Wadi Khans near Mosul Governorate and the oldest irrigation project in Diyala Governorate. The dam was built on the Al-Adhem River, known as cuneiform sources (Rdanu), Aramaic (Radan) and Arabic sources (Al Rathan). The lands that were irrigated by Al-Adhem Dam were known in the Sassanid era as “Kora Shad Hormuz” or “Tusuja Al-Rathanin”, as they irrigated the wide area on both sides of the Adhem River, known today as Khan Al-Ghurfa on the eastern side and Al-Aith land on the western side. The dam is a witness to the great awareness of the ancient Iraqi man to protect his cities from the dangers of torrential rains and floods. The idea of constructing the current Al-Adhem Dam in 1990 is a revival of the idea of the old  Iraqi engineers built the archaeological Al-Adhem Dam after studying the topography of the area and the water level and making the most of the water in agriculture. The remnants of the current dam are represented on the left side of the dam with a length of (48) m, and it consists of 4 oval pillars (3), which are visible between two openings. Small bricks were used with dimensions of 20 * 20 * 6 cm; the length of one pillar is 10.5 m in width and 4.5 m in width. The opening between one pillar and another is 225 cm on the right side, and they are built over a rocky tooth. As for the central part of the dam, part of it was destroyed due to various factors. The oldest reference to the site goes back to the trip of Joseph Rousseau in 1834, as well as the traveller Felix Jones.

Present State of Conservation

The dam was built in the Sassanid era (637-226) Before Christ and continued to fulfil the purpose for which it was established until it collapsed in the late twelfth century After Christ after a crack occurred in it. Some believe that the reason for the dam collapse was the wars and invasions that took place during the last Abbasid era, where Al Adhem river was the most important defensive fort at that time. During the construction of the modern Al-Adhem Dam, maintenance work was carried out for the archaeological dam, which is separated by a distance of 2 km south of the modern dam, by the Ministry of Culture, Antiquities and Tourism / the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage headed by the archaeologist, Mr. (Burhan Shaker) in the years 1993-1994.