THE CRUX Can You Dig It? An archaeologically fertile area of the Middle East finally opens up. Ask Discover Why aren’t we using thorium Q in nuclear reactors, given the possibility of a meltdown is nearly zero and the waste cannot be used to make bombs? — Dennis Dorando Concord, Calif. In a word: precedent. A It’s certainly possible to base nuclear reactors around thorium, as opposed to the most commonly used element, uranium. And thorium reactors likely would be somewhat safer because of thorium-based fuel’s greater stability versus uranium-based fuel, with the added Michael Danti, the archaeologist leading the benefit of not producing as much effort to search the isolated Kurdistan region, stands atop a dig near Gird-i Dasht thought nuclear bomb fuel. All of Iraq is not created equal to include artifacts from the Early Iron Age. Of course, they’re still not perfect. — at least not for archaeologists. Its Even though a conventional melt- war-torn northern region, known as attacking from the east. “We think down would be unlikely, thorium Kurdistan, has been closed to digs this modern road probably follows still produces harmful radiation that for more than half a century. But the the route that Sargon II followed in needs to be contained, and something Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) 714 B.C.,” says Danti. could always go wrong. is now allowing a team led by Boston Danti’s Rowanduz Archaeological But the real reason we use uranium University archaeologist Michael Danti Program — the first American project over thorium is a result of wartime to search the mountainous area for ever granted a five-year excavation politics. Cold War-era governments artifacts. Their continuing efforts in permit in Iraqi Kurdistan — began work (including ours) backed uranium- the western Zagros Mountains, along in spring 2013 at Gird-i Dasht. The site, based reactors because they produced the Turkish and Iranian borders, likely thought to be an ancient fortified settle- plutonium — handy for making represent the best chance yet to dig at ment, likely was continually occupied nuclear weapons. the root of Kurdish origins. from roughly 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1800, With some modifications, today’s Case in point: While widening a road during the area’s Bronze Age, Iron Age, commercial nuclear reactors could leading into Iran, Danti says Kurdish and Middle and Late Islamic periods. switch to thorium-based fuels, but at workers dug into a 25-kilometer section The archaeologists hope to determine great cost. Thorium nuclear power of hillside, exposing the buried and just how much interaction there once might well be the answer for some burned remains of several stone, adobe was between ancient cultures in the area. countries, though; India and China and timber buildings from the Early Danti predicts the team will uncover are investing heavily in its develop- Iron Age. After carbon-dating them, the remains of an Early Iron Age ment. — ADAM HADHAZY Danti believes these charred remnants “militarized frontier zone,” complete ➔ are connected to local marauding by with fortresses, watchtowers and Visit DiscoverMagazine.com/Ask Assyrian King Sargon II, who sacked population relocation camps. It would for more answers. To submit the region’s Kingdom of Musasir/Ardini be a fitting reminder that history often a question, send an email to [email protected] about 27 centuries ago by unexpectedly repeats itself. — BRUCE DORMINEY UNIVERSITY CUNEO/BOSTON ALLISON E. 14 DISCOVERMAGAZINE.COM © 2014 DISCOVER magazine. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. www.DiscoverMagazine.com.