1/6 archeorient.hypotheses.org /36155 Virtual Tour of Erbil Citadel: Journey Through History Georges Mouamar, Marina Wondrich, Hezha Zayer Mohammed et Yves Ubelmann ⋮ Introduction: why a virtual tour? Perched atop a prominent tell in the heart of modern-day Erbil, in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Erbil Citadel is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the world, with nearly 6.000 years of uninterrupted occupation. Historically known as Urbilum, Arba-il, or Arbela, the citadel is one of the most important urban centers in the history of Mesopotamia. Thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads of major ancient Near Eastern civilizations, it quickly emerged as a major urban center (Van de Mieroop 1999). Alongside cities like Nineveh, Ashur, and Khorsabad, Erbil reached its peak during the Neo-Assyrian period (10 th –7 th centuries BCE), serving as a religious capital – center of the cult of Ištar of Arbela – and a royal residence (MacGinnis 2014; Nevling Porter 2004). The symbolic, political, and religious importance of the citadel has endured through the centuries, making it a key site in the region’s historical landscape (Fig. 1). Fig. 1. The northern façade of the Erbil Citadel, standing atop the ancient tell of the city of Erbil. © French Archaeological Mission in Erbil, Photo: G. Mouamar. Today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the citadel is the focus of large-scale restoration and documentation programs. In 2007, as part of a major conservation initiative, the last residents were relocated and most houses were emptied to allow for archaeological work and structural rehabilitation. Since then, access to the site has remained limited, both for researchers and for the general public, due to ongoing restoration and safety concerns. This project is the result of a close collaboration between the Kurdistan Center for Arts and Culture (KCAS) and the French Archaeological Mission in Erbil (MAFE). It shows a shared commitment to combining scientific research with heritage outreach, using digital tools to enhance the understanding and dissemination of Erbil’s urban history. In June 2024, a series of meetings between members of both teams, held at the French Institute for the Near East (Ifpo) in Erbil and the French Institute in Erbil (IFE), sparked the idea for a collaborative project that merges archaeological expertise, cultural mediation, and technological innovation. This initiative demonstrates a common interest in promoting the Erbil Citadel not only as a major archaeological site but also as a living memory site for local communities. The virtual tour brings together scholarly and heritage perspectives, engaging both local and international audiences. Project framework: partnerships and collaborations The virtual tour project of the Erbil Citadel is part of a broader scientific, institutional, and technological collaboration that brings together several partners with complementary areas of expertise: The Kurdistan Center for Arts and Culture (KCAC), founded in 2023, is a cultural organization based in Erbil. KCAC is dedicated to building the long-term cultural infrastructure necessary to preserve, activate, and expand Kurdish arts and identity. Through archives, education, research, and public programming, KCAC serves as an institutional home for Kurdish cultural knowledge ensuring that memory is not simply safeguarded, but made alive, accessible, and continually evolving.