“Die Große Schnittstelle. Bericht über die 14. Kampagne in Tall Mozan/Urkeš: Ausgrabungen im Gebiet AA, Juni-Oktober 2001,”
Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft zu Berlin 134, pp. 103-130.
The major results of the joined mission of UCLA (14th campaign) and DOG at Urkesh in 2001 is the topic of this paper which also presents a historical analysis (Paragraph 1.3) of the ‘great interface’ occurred between the Post-imperial Akkadian and the Ur III periods (around 2112 BC), when UCLA’s efforts focused on Area AA, while the DOG mission concentrated on Area C2.
Paragraph 1 presents the strategy and the results of the excavation in Areas A9, A10, A14, A15 and A16, mainly focusing on structures X (the platform of the Palace) and W (the underground structure). The area of the Palace, after the ‘great interface’, started to be dismissed and progressively a simple settlement developed, insisting on the same area.
Paragraph 2 analyses in detail phases 1-3 (the period of Tupkish and Tar’am-Agade), with the possible function of structure W as a É mat-tim (and its relationship with structure X), the burnt beam remains of the royal storeroom AK, the pavement hall H3 (also estimating the total area of the Palace, around 5000 m2, with an open portion of ca. 1700 m2).
Paragraph 3 deals with phase 4, the end of the Palace, and the transformation of its area (under Šatar-mat and Atal-šen), analysing the peculiar ceramic production from the Southern sector of the mound.
Paragraph 4 focuses on phase 5 (reigning Terru and Haziran) and the development of the first settlement on the area of the former Palace, defining two differentiated areas (one to the East and one two the West) and underlining the presence of a wadi to the South of the settlement.
Paragraph 5 investigates the phase of decline of the settlement and the installation of many tombs in the area.
Paragraph 6 is devoted to the presentation of the major finds: two terracotta miniature heads (Ḫabur-ware) portraying a male (A14.7 and A15.226), a bronze bucket from area A16f104 (A16.29) [probably used for cultic purposes, as displayed on an Akkadian-period sealing from the Palace, A6q385.3], a hematite cylindrical seal in Syrian-style (A9.138) and a male head in stone (A9.149) resembling a parallel from Tell Rimah [as for all the finds see the Website].
Paragraph 7 offers a bioarchaeological analysis of human remains from Tell Mozan, investigating also ancient pathologies.
Back to top: Giorgio Buccellati and Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati 2002