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Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Khafajah

Archaeological Site

In the Diyala River valley, Khafajah (Tell Khafajah) is an archaeological tell with Middle Bronze Age and Old Babylonian remains. The site attracts archaeologists and students of Mesopotamian history.

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In this guide

Khafajah essentials

Address: Tell Khafajah (Khafajah), Diyala Governorate, Iraq
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About Khafajah

Tell Khafajah is an archaeological site in Iraq’s Diyala region containing remains from the third and second millennia BCE. It is one of several important Diyala Valley tells that document early urban and temple architecture in Mesopotamia.

The visible remains are those of a tell with exposed mudbrick foundations and the outlines of large public and religious buildings. Archaeological publications highlight the site’s temple precincts, fortifications and the domestic neighborhoods revealed by trenches.

Khafajah was occupied in the Jemdet Nasr, Early Dynastic and Old Babylonian periods and played a role in the regional network of towns in the Diyala Valley. Excavations carried out in the 1930s by international archaeological teams recovered tablets, seals and architectural sequences that clarified the site’s administrative and religious functions.

The tell sits in the Diyala River valley in eastern Iraq within Diyala Governorate, part of the ancient Mesopotamian heartland east of the Tigris and within the broader Diyala archaeological landscape.

  • Excavations and finds: Systematic excavations in the 1930s recovered cuneiform tablets, seals and ceramics that helped define the Diyala regional sequence for the third and second millennia BCE.

What to See#

  • Main tell: The main tell contains domestic and administrative strata; excavation trenches revealed mudbrick foundations and ceramic assemblages spanning Jemdet Nasr, Early Dynastic and Old Babylonian phases.
  • Temple and precinct: A central temple and fortified precinct were uncovered, including a long sequence of cult and administrative architecture reflecting the site’s role in the Diyala region.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Khafajah

The cooler months between late autumn and spring are best for field visits in Iraq's Diyala region; check safety advisories.

Autumn-Spring
October-April · 12-28°C (54-82°F)
Mild temperatures for field visits; summers are very hot.

Weather & Climate near Khafajah

Climate

Khafajah's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 4°C to 44°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 97 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
OctoberJuneJuly
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
52°
Warmest Month
-5°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Very Good 4° - 16° 10° 31 mm some cloud 60% 2.5 m/s 0.5 low 10.1h
February Very Good 7° - 19° 13° 37 mm mostly sunny 56% 2.7 m/s 0.7 moderate 10.9h
March Ideal 10° - 23° 17° 34 mm mostly sunny 49% 3.1 m/s 1.1 high 11.9h
April Ideal 15° - 29° 22° 21 mm some cloud 43% 3.3 m/s 1.5 very high 12.9h
May Excellent 20° - 37° 28° 6 mm mostly sunny 31% 3.4 m/s 2.0 very high 13.8h
June Ideal 24° - 42° 33° 0 mm clear 18% 3.9 m/s 2.5 extreme 14.2h
July Ideal 26° - 44° 35° 0 mm clear 16% 4.2 m/s 2.3 extreme 14.0h
August Ideal 25° - 44° 35° 0 mm clear 16% 3.7 m/s 2.1 extreme 13.2h
September Ideal 22° - 40° 31° 0 mm clear 17% 2.8 m/s 1.6 very high 12.3h
October Ideal 17° - 34° 25° 2 mm mostly sunny 26% 2.3 m/s 1.0 high 11.2h
November Ideal 10° - 25° 17° 22 mm mostly sunny 46% 2.2 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.3h
December Very Good 6° - 18° 12° 37 mm some cloud 57% 2.5 m/s 0.4 low 9.8h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Khafajah

Khafajah is located in Diyala Governorate east of Baghdad; access is subject to local security conditions. Travel should be planned with Iraqi authorities and local archaeological institutions; the nearest major urban centers are Baqubah and Baghdad.

Tips for Visiting Khafajah

  • Tel and tell-based remains can be fragile-stay on marked paths and respect any fenced excavation areas.
  • Consult academic publications for detailed contexts-Khafajah's publications from the 1930s include many of the major finds.
  • If visiting through Baghdad or Baqubah, check security advisories and coordinate with local authorities or academic institutions.