Rwar is one of the ancient villages of Hawraman-i-Takht, located in the Sawlawa district of Sulaymaniyah Governorate. With a history stretching back nearly 6,000 years, the village has long been regarded as one of the historic settlements of the region. Its current population is estimated at around 277 people, although this figure has likely changed over time.
Before the construction of the Darian Dam, Rwar was a terraced village set at the foot of the Kosalan mountains, with the Sirwan River flowing in front of it. In 2015, however, the rising waters of the dam submerged much of the original settlement, leaving only around 30 households. The residents later rebuilt their homes slightly higher than the original site, still within the same mountainous landscape. Despite this relocation, much of the village’s original form and heritage now lies underwater.
Historically, Rwar was known as a centre of learning and scholarship. During the era of “Ahmad San,” it is said to have served as a cultural and literary hub for the surrounding region. Oral accounts describe Ahmad San establishing an organised system that helped transform the village into a centre of knowledge. His residence is said to have been a multi storey structure, with each level serving a distinct function: an armoury on the first floor, a library and archive on the second, and his private residence on the third.
Like many periods in Kurdish history, Rwar’s prominence was affected by internal divisions among regional rulers, princes, and aghas. During the reign of Ahmad San, Aziz Khan, father of Mahmoud Khan of Dizli, is said to have allied with the Qajars. According to historical accounts, this alliance led to an attack that dismantled Ahmad San’s system, brought Rwar under control, and ended its role as a political and cultural centre.
Today, Rwar stands as a place shaped by both natural and historical forces, where layers of heritage remain preserved in memory even as parts of its physical landscape lie beneath the waters of the Darian Dam.
