When the German archaeologist Robert Koldewey arrived to excavate Babylon for the Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft, he made a map of the site, showing that it was inhabited by local Arabs, some of whom had erected villages (for which the German word is DORF), made of ancient Babylon's baked bricks, made by Nebuchdrezzar. He also lived on the site for several years, supervising the excavations (ca. 1900-1912).
The following legend identifies Arab-occupied sites within the former boundaries of the ancient city which extended on both sides of the Euphrates river:
ADK.............. Altes verfallenes Dorf Kweiresch
DA.................Dorf Ananeh
DD.................Dorf Dschumdschuma
DK.................Dorf Kweiresch
DS.................Dorf Sindschar
FK.................Farm "Karabet"
(p. 13. cf. map titled "Babylon." Barthel Hrouda. Robert Koldewey, Das wieder erstehende Babylon. Verlag C. H. Beck. Munchen. 1990. ISBN 3-406-31674-3)
According to the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah (Jer 50:3; 51:12-13, 39-40), Babylon was NEVER to be lived in after God's destruction of the city, which was to accompany the release of his people from the Babylonian Captivity. Jeremiah's prophecy however, never came true, Babylon never was destroyed in the manner he envisioned in such great detail. She was occupied through the ages down to the present day. Under Saddam Husein many of her buildings and walls were restored by Iraqi workcrews, who cleared away tons of debris, and locating the ancient foundations, built directly atop them again.
