Historic sites emerged as a result of drought-stricken area

”Before the $1.5 million dam was built, the site was regularly visited by the Yazidi community, who would walk long distances from surrounding villages to perform rituals like circumambulating the shrine each May or, more regularly, visiting the graves of relatives. Sheikh Khalat, 58, is part of a two-family team who kept the cemetery site in better days along with Mr Eido. Both men, grandsons of caretakers, now look after the new cemetery and shrine.