[5][6] The city was destroyed, but was later rebuilt and is mentioned by sources from the Third Dynasty of Ur with ruler Shu-Sin attacking Mardaman and using prisoners from there to work the gold and silver mines.

I heard it said, “The land of Idamaraṣ, where fortresses are held, heeds Zimri-Lim only.” Now then, WRITE me and I will come to take a sacred oath for you.

On hearing my tablet, send promptly to me an answer to my letter"[11] The relations with Mari seem to have been hostile, also seen in Mardaman's support for Hadnum.

Another letter in the Mari archives informed Zimri-Lim of the conquest of Mardaman by his allies Quarni-Lim of Andarig and Sharraya of northern Razama.

My lord has already tried the herb for (curing) ‘the burning of ṣētu-fever’ of the staff physician, but I myself have (also) tried the herb for ‘the burning of ṣētu-fever’ of the Mardamân physician and it worked well ..."[14] During the Middle Assyrian Empire, the city had a final period of prosperity as a governor's seat, under the name Mardama, between 1250 and 1200 BC.

The ruins of a Bronze Age city in Bassetki were discovered in 2013 during a field search by the University of Tübingen.

[13] Since 2016 excavations, led by Prof. Dr. Peter Pfälzner and Dr. Hasan Qasim of the archaeological department in Duhok, have been conducted at the site.