Kirkuk Governorate
Kirkuk Governorate (Arabic: محافظة كركوك, romanized: Muḥāfaẓat Karkūk;[3] Kurdish: پارێزگای کەرکووک, romanized: Parêzgeha Kerkûkê/Parêzgayi Kerkûk;[4][5] Turkish: Kerkük ili[6][7]) or Kirkuk Province is a governorate in northern Iraq. The governorate has an area of 9,679 square kilometres (3,737 sq mi). In 2017, the estimated population was 1,259,561 people.[8] The provincial capital is the city of Kirkuk. It is divided into four districts.
The province was named Kirkuk Governorate until 1976, when it was named At-Ta'mim Governorate, meaning "nationalization", referring to the national ownership of the regional oil and natural gas reserves. In 2006, the name "Kirkuk Governorate" was restored.
Archeological sites
Archeological sites in the governorate include Arrapḫa, Nuzi and Lubdu, which all date back several thousand years. Arrapha is located within the modern city of Kirkuk, Nuzi is identified with the site of Yorghan Tepe and the location of Lubdu isn't certain, but considered to be at Tall Buldagh.[23]