Ancient map of Nippur, Kassite period (courtesy Hilprecht Sammlung, Jena)

The importance of the Mesopotamian holy city, Nippur is reflected even today in the great size of the mound, Nuffar, located between Baghdad and Basra in southern Iraq. Nippur was one of the longest-lived sites, beginning in the prehistoric Ubaid period (c. 5000 B. C. ) and lasting until about A. D. 800, in the Islamic era (Gibson 1992).

Source: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago