The oldest bridge in the world

For decades, this structure was known simply as the 'Enigmatic Construction'. Monumental, imposing, mysterious, the archaeologists who excavated it in the 1920-30s assumed it had to be either a temple to the ancient Sumerian gods or a large royal tomb for the priest-kings of Lagash. Turns out it's the oldest bridge in the world. Not only that, it's also the world's oldest hydraulic structure - used by the Sumerians to control and direct water during a Bronze Age climate crisis. And we're losing it... to water. This is the story of Girsu Project's mission to save the 'Enigmatic Construction' and how, over the past 10 years, they've managed to uncover the true function and purpose of what is now known as The Bridge of Girsu, the oldest bridge in the world. Join Sébastien Rey (Curator of ancient Mesopotamia and Director of the Girsu Project) and Ebru Torun (Site Conservator and Heritage Manager for the Girsu Project) over an 8-year period and 1500m2 site as they battle to save and understand the Bridge of Girsu. Find out more about the work of the Girsu Project here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/projects/girsu-project Shot and edited by Nick Harris. 1:31 What is the Bridge of Girsu/The Enigmatic Construction? 2:04 History of excavations the Bridge of Girsu 3:42 What does the Girsu Project do? 4:21 The Canal of Girsu 5:44 How do we know it's a bridge? 7:47 How do we know it's "the oldest bridge in the world"? 8:41 The Hydraulic Structure of Girsu 8:57 How a flume works 10:18 Why did the Sumerians fall? 11:54 Saving the World's Oldest Bridge...from water 14:20 How basel erosion works 15:44 Using basel erosion to fight basel erosion 16:07 Progress since 2022 16:52 The Northern Extension Wall Bridge of Girsu 19:20 How to preserve wall tops 20:49 What happens to the Bridge now?