Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment · 20 February 2026
Archaeologists digitally map Alexander-era Mesopotamian city Charax Spasinou in Iraq.
Exam-focused facts from the 20 February 2026 current affairs briefing.
Key facts
- Charax Spasinou, founded in 324 BCE near the Tigris River, was one of Alexander the Great’s final planned settlements.
- Drones captured thousands of aerial images and magnetometers scanned the soil to build a digital map without excavation.
- The survey revealed wide streets, oversized housing blocks, temples and kiln-equipped industrial workshops across more than 500 square kilometres.
- Pottery, bricks and industrial debris scattered across the surface helped archaeologists confirm the city’s extent.