Given the nature of the accumulations excavated in 2006 (all exclusively the result of natural sedimentation, except for the bin in J4) we did not expect to find many objects, as was in fact the case. Ceramics, on the other hand, was plentiful, particularly since we have been regularly sifting almost every bucketful of dirt. This was due to our regular use of the enclosed conveyor belts (we call them shaffat or “vacuum”), which by design have a screen mounted at the base. Besides carefully studying the ceramics from the earlier (fourth millennium) strata, full ceramic analysis was concentrated on an earlier excavation unit, A14, from which some 35,000 sherds had been stored –- now totally studied.^{Note 1}

Back to top: 6. Appendices

6.1.1.1 The setting

A14 is an area bounded on the north by the southern exterior wall of the palace which included the large mud brick platform abutting this wall and the large drain nearby. While excavations are continuing in this area, we had proposed that the installations be identified as a structure called KASKAL.KUR in Hittite texts and interpreted as a “water road to the Netherworld.” To the east lies the entrance to the monumental underground structure that has been identified as a Hurrian necromantic pit called in Hurrian ābi. The architectural bounds to the south and west are unknown at this point. The analysis of all body sherds from this context was completed on September 10th and the shape sherds completed by the end of the season. We also completed the analysis of the sherds from A16 (see below, section 7).

The strata and labels used here are from an unpublished A14 sequence. For our current purposes, the following will be sufficient:

Back to top: 6. Appendices

6.1.1.2 Phase 3: Tar’am-Agade and Ishar-kinum (late Naram-Sin period)

For the analysis of the Phase 3 material we had already studied a floor deposit (A14a20), containing a number of complete vessels; with this data set we can compare the other ceramics in the same strata as well as ceramics in other Phase 3 strata in A14 (strata 14-10 are dated to Phase 3; A14a20 is in stratum 10). The floor A14a20 was delimited on its northern edge by the southern wall of the palace; this is the only side where contain-ment is known for it. Given the context of a primary floor deposit, there are a number of observations that can be made on the basis of the ceramics that were found in situ on the floor.

It contained at least 14 deep storage bowls with diameters ranging from 16-50 cm., for long term storage (Fig. 14). Many of them were decorated just under their thickened rims, the decoration included one or two lines of rope decoration (the most popular type with at least five examples). Wavy combed lines between an upper and lower combed border also occurred. In one case the wavy combed border was combined with one line of rope decoration.

Smaller jars, for short term storage, had globular bodies with rim diameters ranging from 10-23 cm (Fig. 12). They included both a narrow rim and necked type and a wider rim type. On the floor there were at least twenty four of these vessels pointing to a function of short term storage of dry food in this area.

Small bowls were much less common as only seven of them came from this floor; one had a carinated shape and the others had a rounded profile. The limited number of serving or eating bowls appears to be part of the same pattern of use as the evidence from the jars.

Cups were mainly of the tall conical cup variety (at least six) but there were some of the shorter ones as well as small wide bowls with a string cut base (Fig. 13). One deep bowl (A14q828-p2, Fig. 14) had traces of bitumen on the interior and the exterior of the rim, probably for the sealing of a lid in place. A tall cup (A14.119, Fig. 13) had traces of bitumen paint both on the interior and dripped irregularly down the exterior. It may have been used as a container for bitumen as it was being applied to other vessels.

In conclusion, the A14a20 floor assemblage appears to be connected both with long term and short term dry food storage and not with cooking, serving or eating. The conical cups we did find as well as the small bowls could have been used for scooping. All the forms then can be taken as part of a set of ceramics used for dry food storage. The storage capacity of the deep bowls used for long term storage vessels was not large so that even from this evidence we can conclude that the greatest emphasis in the vessel inventory was on shorter term storage. It might be concluded then that in this area the quantity of goods was not large, probably indicating that the floor deposit was not immediately connected with the palace (where presumably greater amounts would have been necessary) but with some other context where large quantities would not have been necessary. That this context may be connected with ceremonies in the ābi, the platform and drain cannot be proven but it clearly remains a possibility.

The analysis of all the remaining sherd lots in A14 Phase 3 strata provides a complementary picture to that given by A14a20. These sherd lots were looked at from the view-point of the function of the area and the internal chronological development of the types taking into consideration that in stratum 10 the amount of pottery was considerably larger than in the other strata. The typological development of various types of bowls, pots and jars can be seen on Figs. 15-24^{Note 2}.

Stratum 14 is the earliest stratum that can be dated to Phase 3. There were fewer sherds from this stratum than the other Phase 3 strata in A14. One bowl with an exterior knob on the body near the rim is a form that is also found in Phase 2 but does continue into Phases 3 and 4. Bowls with evidence of being wiped with a plant on the lower body at the end of the forming stage, probably to smooth out any exterior deformities, are also found in this stratum. These bowls typically have a flat base with strong circles because they were not finished after being cut off the wheel. The evidence from stratum 14 is not sufficient to discuss function/use in this area. However chronologically it appears to be close to Phase 2 because of the presence of the knobbed bowl and the bowl with plant wiped lower body.

Stratum 13 contained at least 5 large jar rims and one medium jar; these types of jars are usually associated with the storage of liquids. This use would be different from the storage arrangements in A14a20 since, as discussed above, that floor contained a concentration of vessels usually associated with short term dry storage. Dry food storage in deep bowls was present in stratum 13 in the five (at least) deep bowls found. Conical cups are represented by six string-cut cup bases; in five of these more than half of the base was found. The only decoration was seen on a rim sherd with the usual combed wavy and straight line pattern. Two bowl sherds with plant wiped lower bodies were also found. One flaring rim pot (see below stratum 10) and a pointed base are unusual in this stratum. This stratum, the earliest excavated so far with a sufficient quantity of material, contained elements in the ceramic inventory of long term storage of both liquid and dry goods.

In stratum 12 the largest number of shapes came from conical cups and bowls with string cut bases. Small and medium jars were present but not in large numbers while there is at least one and possibly two large jars represented among the sherds. Deep bowls were more common than shallow bowls (Fig. 25). As in stratum 14, we found here a bowl with an exterior lug on the upper body. This type of bowl continued in small numbers into Phase 4 (one rim sherd was found in A14 Stratum 5). This stratum contained both short term and long term dry storage as well as now some indications of eating and drinking usage.

Stratum 11 contained a large number of conical cups with string cut base as well as some cups (3) with cut bases. Small wide bowls have both string cut and the finer cut bases that have been smoothed. Deep bowls included four decorated vessels –- three with template lines on the exterior and one with a thin rope decoration on the upper body. The stratum contained more bowls than jars with deep bowls and wide round sided bowls being the most prominent, both typically associated with long term storage (Fig. 26). Straight sided bowls have widely spaced template lines and one deep bowl has a groove inside the rim. Jars include mostly small and medium examples but two jar rims may be from jars that are somewhat larger although not as large as the largest of the store jars we have found on the site in other contexts. Incorporated in this stratum is an imported Early Transcaucasian bowl rim; there are few Early Transcaucasian vessels found at the site but when they are their presence is significant. One short spout just below the rim comes from a vessel of unknown shape.

This stratum continues the emphasis on long term dry storage in large bowls as well as eating and drinking vessels. It also follows the pattern of the earlier strata in focusing on long term storage with some emphasis on drinking vessels that may also have been used for scooping. The smaller jars may also have contained liquid for short term storage but the limited number in comparison to the number of conical cups with string cut bases makes this hypothesis somewhat doubtful.

Stratum 10 has the largest number of sherds of all the strata. It also includes the floor a20 and many of the sherds come from these same features but could not be associated with any of the vessels connected with this floor even though some were only partially complete. Deep bowls with a decoration have one or two lines of rope decoration or rope decoration associated with a line of combed wavy line decoration above both, placed just under the rim. The third type of decoration is a line of horizontal combed decoration, a line of wavy combed decoration and a repeat of the horizontal combed decoration. Deep bowls without shoulders almost always have a decoration on the upper body below the rim but those with a shoulder less often have this type of decoration. Straight sided bowls can be decorated with parallel template lines both in Phase 3 and 4 (Figs. 27-28). These lines are not made as closely spaced as in Phase 4. Cooking vessels are again in this stratum represented by few examples. Those sherds that are found are from the usual globular vessels with outturned rim; they are fire blackened from secondary firing during the cooking process. One rim, of which more than half was preserved, did not have the secondary firing traces; however, the body of the vessel did not have the usual exterior burnish so it may have had a different function.

There are few thin walled small pots with flaring rim (Fig. 19) in any of the strata in A14. They first appear in stratum 13 where the single example is larger and thicker walled than in later strata. Stratum 11 contained two examples and stratum 10 also had two examples. There are no examples in Phase 4 strata in A14. The small size and distinctive shape indicate that it had a specialized function which did not necessitate a lid as for instance a container for perfumed oils would require. This pot may have been used for pigments or unguents.

There are no carinated small bowls in stratum 10; the bowls in this stratum have straight rims and straight sides (Fig. 27) or have in-turned rims and rounded sides. The development of the conical cups as can be seen in the sherds is difficult to establish. It may have been that the proportions of the height vs. rim diameter changed but with our present evidence from sherds we can only investigate whether the proportion of string cut bases to cut bases changed over time or whether the wares they are made in changed also. At the end of the analysis we will be able to determine if the proportions in any one stratum are significantly different which may represent a change in the function of the area. The large number of conical cups, either with string cut or cut bases, may coincide with the small number of bowls in the stratum to indicate that part of the function had to do with the storage of eating and drinking vessels. The medium and round sided but fairly open bowls may have been for serving or eating by more than one person.

As in all Phase 3 strata, in stratum 10 as well there are few large jars represented; it contained only one rim sherd of a very large storage jar with a rolled rim. The large number of medium jars points to a short term dry storage function for this area with the addition of serving and eating vessels (Fig. 29).

Back to top: 6. Appendices

6.1.1.3 Phase 4: Atal-shen (Ur III period)

While there are fewer sherds in any of the Phase 4 strata in comparison to Phase 3, the sherds connected with this phase are representative typologically of other Phase 4 ceramics found in other areas of the excavations. Deep bowls are not as common as in Phase 3 (Fig. 30).

Stratum 9 is a transitional stratum between Phase 3 and Phase 4. Now ribs begin to appear more frequently as decoration below the rim of jars; these jar rims are characteristic for Phase 4 strata in all areas of the site. The remaining sherds are of conical cups, always an important element in the Urkesh sherds from Phase 2-4.

Stratum 8 contains the latest bowls with rounded carination (Fig. 30) and the beginning of proportionately a large number of bowls with a sharp carination (Figs. 15, 16 and 31). Fewer small bowls have the typical Phase 3 slightly in-turned rim. Pointed bases appear although there was one earlier example in Stratum 13. Medium jars appear now with ribs on the rim and template lines on the body. Fewer conical cup bases were found in this stratum.

In Stratum 5 sharply carinated bowls continue. After a hiatus deep bowls appear again; they can have a wide or thin line of rope decoration. One example has a knob on the exterior. Conical cups again are frequent but now more examples have cut bases. Small bowls continue to have the same shape as the Phase 3 examples but now the upper body is slightly more inclined. One Simple ware bowl has a sharply incised line (“notch”) on the exterior just below the rim. One bottle was also found in the rim sherds. While bot-tles also appear in Phase 3, they are not common in any phase.

Stratum 4 did not contain many sherds. Fine bowls with a notched rim continue as well as deep bowls. No discussion of the function of the area at this time can be made.

Back to top: 6. Appendices

6.1.1.4 Conclusions

Overall patterns of typological development and functional differences within an overall continuity of function have been discussed. Within a large urban setting with long term continuity in ethnic, political and economic terms, elements of change in the ceramics are less important than the establishment of patterns of long term usage. In A14 the patterns of long and short term dry storage have been discussed. In addition possible patterns of food consumption, both serving and eating appear to be present. Neither of these patterns of activities, however, is as important as medium to short term dry storage functions. These activities would be consonant with the known activities within the ābi and possibly also with the rituals connected with the platform and drain.

If the results of the ceramic analysis of A14 are correlated with the results of the animal bone analysis, then we arrive at a functional picture of the open-air space just outside the entrance to the monumental ābi and adjacent to a large platform and associated drain. In the bone evidence the largest portion came from pigs. This is significant because 1) evidence from inside the ābi and 2) Hurro-Hittite ritual texts connected with the use of a necromantic pit, called ābi in Hurrian, indicate that piglets were a significant ritual animal sacrificed within the underground structure. In addition the large number of dry storage vessels that must have been used for grain storage, would have been important for the bread offerings also prominently cited in the texts. The fact that fewer bones of hunted animals were found in this area correlates with its function as a bounded open-air space ritually oriented used for storage and preparation of ritual offerings connected with the ābi and possibly the platform and drain.

Late Chalcolithic ceramics were discovered for the first time in 2005 inside both the glacis and the escarpment. This season we excavated them in a deep sounding in J4 and on top of the glacis in J3. The shapes and wares are typical for Late Chalcolithic 3 ceramics in the Khabur and eastern Anatolia regions.

Essentially the ceramics divide into two basic groups: coarse wares and fine wares. The coarse wares all have the characteristics of low firing with a carbon core usually quite thick, a large amount of mineral inclusions with the pebbles ranging from small to very large. A gray colored type can be as large as 3.5mm while the white type (probably calcites) are smaller with an average size in the range of 2mm. Shell temper is sometimes present. There is also a great amount of straw temper in the wares with some having a large amount of straw on the surface. The coarse wares can be divided into three different categories depending on the texture of the ceramics from the very coarse low fired wares with pebble and chaff temper to the finer wares with very small sand particles as temper.

The shapes made in the coarse wares are for the most part open bowls with the so-called hammer head rims (Fig. 33). The rim diameters usually range between 17 and 36cm. We have a large number of these vessels. Two of these bowl sherds have cord impressions around the exterior just below the rim. One rim has two lines of cord wrapped around the circumference and the other has one. Another typical shape for the period is the so-called casserole with its characteristic carination mid-body (J3q339-p70, Fig. 34). We have few of these and one of them is of a finer ware than usually found in these cooking vessels. Jars which range from small to medium are also relatively rare (Fig. 32). Only one sherd from a large jar has been found; it is extremely heavy and has secondary burning on the rim. It could certainly not have been lifted so must have been used for long term storage but the burning on the rim may indicate another use, not now clear. Many of the coarse ware vessels have traces of burning near the rim and the large sherd of a “casserole” had secondary burning also along the carination but none on the body between the rim and the carination. This appears to indicate that it was placed near a fire but had only limited direct contact with it. Other bowls and jars have use wear along the rim, probably because a lid was continually placed on top of them. Some coarse shapes have simple potter’s marks on the exterior.

We have excavated many fewer fine ware sherds than coarse ware. The shapes of the fine wares are quite small and consist in thin walled vessels more highly fired than the coarse wares (some examples are given on Figs. 34-35). Small jars and cups predominate but we have excavated two sherds of small carinated bowls that are typical for the LC 3 period. Several gray burnished bowls and small jars may be earlier, that is LC 2. Cooking pots are made with a heavy crystal temper that has been proven to retain more heat longer. It is very impressive how long these pots lasted in the overall inventory of the site. Essentially they changed little in their shape and temper over the 2,000 year period of the habitation at the site of Mozan.

Ellery E. Frahm conducted a brief survey of all the obsidian flakes stored in our storage, with a view towards a fuller study on sourcing some representative samples. He se-lected 40 samples, for which we will ask an export permit to conduct specialized analysis in the laboratory of the University of Minnesota, St. Paul.

Sourcing (or provenancing) of obsidian requires an analytical laboratory that has large, immobile equipment and a reference collection of obsidian from possible sources. Portable analytical equipment is not yet reliable for obsidian sourcing. The laboratory overseen by Ellery Frahm at the University of Minnesota has the equipment and the reference collection needed for sourcing obsidian from Mozan.

The entire Mozan lithic collection was examined by him, including approximately 600 obsidian pieces, so that he was familiar with flaked-stone tools found on the tell. After the first examination of all the samples, he devised a set of strict selection criteria for choosing samples to request for export:

1. Selected samples cannot:
   • be recognizable as a tool (includes projectile points, blades, bladelets, borers, scrapers, knives, celts, notches, deticulates, trapezes, burins, and choppers).
   • have a cross section that is typical of the above tools, especially blades.
   • be a core or pieces that refit to form a core (possible cores were examined for features such as striking platforms and negatives of bulbs of percussion).
   • be ground- or polished-stone (for example, no beads or drilled objects).
   • have any apparent retouch (includes both the ventral and dorsal sides).
2. Selected samples must:
   • be either debris from tool making or some other unrecognizable fragment.
   • be less than 2cm in diameter, fitting the definition for chip debris (debris larger than 2cm is classified as a chunk, and it is commonly assumed that most tool types require flakes larger than 2cm in diameter).

A three day geo-physical survey completed the picture for the Plaza and the Temple Terrace. As in the past, this was undertaken by Christian Huebner and Stephan Giese, who are preparing a full-fledged report. A ground penetrating survey was added to the magnetometric survey, and the results confirmed in detail what had already transpired from earlier work, with particular reference to three points (see Figs. 39-40).

First, the Plaza continues to the south and the southwest and shows the same lack of any structure as for the remainder to the north. This is what we have called an “inert” deposit.

Second, the western part of the Temple Terrace is devoid of any structural buildup, in contrast with the eastern part. This confirms our understanding that the this portion of the Terrace conformed to the situation of the Plaza itself, with regard to its having remained a privileged area throughout the centuries, and in contrast with the situation of the eastern portion of the Terrace.

Third, a large building seems to close the Plaza in its northern extension, where the space between Temple Terrace and Palace is at its narrowest. This building also matches the sharp corner to the north taken by the Terrace wall.

After two seasons of off-site geoarchaeological fieldwork in the Upper Khabur to contextualise Tell Mozan in its broad former landscape setting, some diachronic understanding of the evolution of the main wadi’s of this area could be gained (see Deckers and Riehl, in press). The landscape and streams as we observe them today are not representative of the past. The present absence of water in the Jaghjagh during the summer is probably caused by damming and extensive use of water for irrigation. Small stream channels have been recently infilled with plough wash due to intensive land use. During the mid 4th to mid 3rd millennium BC and possibly during the mid 5th century BC, the Jaghjagh had a vigorous, meandering and steady flow. The Jaghjagh stream flow might have fluctuated from time to time related to climatic changes, extraction of water for irrigation and vegetation changes as possibly after 2500 BC and during the 3rd century AD, when stream velocities may have been lower. Although the region is devoid of trees today, botanical remains from this area (Deckers and Riehl, 2004; Deckers, 2005) suggest that oak park woodland was present within this area until the 3rd century AD and that streams like the Jaghjagh were possibly accompanied by a riverine gallery forest in the mid 4th millennium BC. Relatively recent flashflood-like deposits from the Jaghjagh (e.g. section QAM) might relate to deforestation.

One of the main aims of geoarchaeological work this year consisted of gaining insight into the local landscape of Tell Mozan at the time of its occupation, especially how Mozan was provided with water, whether there was a wadi in the neighbourhood and how it looked in the 3rd/2nd millennium BC. Declassified CORONA satellite images of the sixties deliver important information on the landscape before large-scale landscape changes took place within this area . On the satellite image, a wadi can be traced that ran from NE to SW through the western lower town of Mozan, passing the present day village of Mozan to the East (see Fig. 42a). Just north of the lower city wall, another branch of the same wadi is following the contour of the depression around the lower city wall, passing the modern village of Mozan at its western side. Both channels came together about 350m southwest of the modern village of Mozan, at the lower town outer city edge. Today, this wadi is hardly visible anymore in the field (see Fig. 42b). Within the lower town of Mozan, along most of its location, just a slight depression can be observed. Only at one place, the wadi bed and benches are still largely present. According to the older men of the village, about 25 years ago there was a lot of water in the wadi that came from Turkey and the wadi bed was more deeply incised. In the last 25 years the wadi has been filled and levelled during ploughing. 25 years ago, some fields just north of Mozan could not be cultivated because they were flooded heavily during the winter and the soil was too moist. They are however cultivated nowadays without any problem. In the past during winter time, the village of Tell Mozan was often flooded as well and the houses were damaged. According to the local people, the reduction in water availability within the wadi might be related to damming in Turkey. It needs to be mentioned however, that according to the satellite images, this wadi doesn’t seem to have had its source in Turkey, but in the upper north of Syria.

At the bottom of several water pits within the Mozan perimeter, coarse gravels could be seen at about 5m depth. The upper part of the wells was not exposed so it is unknown at what depth the gravels start. The gravels are indicative of high river velocities. They might be Pleistocene in age, however this still needs to be confirmed. Towards the road from Amouda to Qamishli a deep quarry exposure can be seen of which the larger part consists of coarse gravel. It would be important to get some age control on those in the next field season (see Fig. 42a).

A test pit OR1 of 2x2m, with depth of ca. 3.3m, was made just E from the infilled depression of the former wadi within the border of the lower town of Mozan (Fig. 4). The upper 1.7m consisted of prismatic silty clay sediments. The lower part contained two poorly sorted gravels. The lowermost gravel in clayey sand matrix was imbricated and contained no artefacts. The clasts were rounded to subrounded and were up to 6cm. The lowermost gravel was somewhat better sorted and oriented (although there was still not much orientation) than the uppermost gravel, which contained a lot of artefacts and was very organic rich and dark brown. The clasts of the uppermost gravel were less rounded, being subrounded to subangular. Both gravels were followed by clayey silt deposit which contained some clasts. Both poorly sorted, non-oriented, non-graded gravels indicate that they were deposited in flash flood like conditions. Especially the uppermost gravel indi-cates that the sediments were not transported over a long distance.

Since this pit is located within the lower town of Mozan, a lot of eroded sherds were present throughout the upper 2.8m of the section, also within the gravel. They were collected in artificial layers (q1 = 1-25cm, q2 = 25-0.55cm, q3 = 0.55-0.8cm, q4 = 0.80m–1.05cm, q5 = 1.05cm–1.3m, q6 = 1.3m-1.55m, q7 = 1.55-1.7m, q8 = 1.7-1.85m, q9 = 1.85-2m, q10 = 2-2.15m, q11= 2.15-2.30m, q12= 2.30-2.45m, q13 = 2.45-2.m, q14= 2.6-2.75m, q15= 2.75-2.9m). Most of them were 3rd millennium BC. There were also some 4th millennium BC sherds (“local ware” –- no fine ware). The main occupation of the lower town was during the third millennium BC. However, where the present day village of Tell Mozan occurs, 2nd millennium BC occupation occurred as well. This is however downstream from the location of OR1 and therefore doesn’t give any further temporal indication. The sediments must have been deposited sometime during or after the third millennium BC. Four samples for Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating were collected in order to gain further understanding when these sediments were deposited. Additionally, 8 samples for sedimentological research were retrieved as well.

Just outside the southern lower town of Mozan a large depression can be observed (Fig. 44a). It is also visible on the satellite image as a darker area (i.e. a moister area) (see feature a on Fig. 42a). It is very similar to the depression just outside Tell Brak (the “ha-lo”). Its function is presently largely unknown. A few years ago, soil scientist Dr. Konstantin Pustovoytov made a small test pit within this depression and found evidence of a possible buried plough horizon. It would be important to undertake micromorphological sampling of this possible ancient plough horizon and to retrieve some samples for dating. This would be one of the aims for next season.

To the southeast of Mozan some possible inactive wadi channels were observed on the satellite image of which the date is presently unknown (Fig. 44b). It would be important to find out whether they were active during the occupation of Mozan and how they looked.

Moreover, it will be important to gain understanding of the former fluvial regime and sediments of the whole Khanzir to understand better the observed section OR1 at Mozan. This is also one of the aims for next year.

At the excavated tell area of Tell Mozan, several natural deposits were investigated. On the “plaza”, several meters of deposits accumulated. Some of them consisted of eolean (wind-blown) accumulations which were often followed by water-laid deposits (of some which were laminated and others more gully deposits). In some eolean layers a thin line of artefacts and/or stones was visible, which might relate to a surface that was exposed for some time (dashed line). There was also were some possible anthropogenically created floor levels which were very compact and contained a lot of sherds that were horizontally oriented. It would be good to undertake micromorphological analysis on this sequence to confirm some of the preliminary interpretations.

In J4 laminated water laid deposits were identified, which were followed by some kind of debris flow.

Archaeo-zoological studies during the 2006 season concentrated on two areas of the excavations at Tell Mozan: From the ongoing excavations on the Temple Terrace particular animal bone finds were analysed to help with the interpretation of local sedimentation. In addition this studies added to the statistical analysis of the animal remains from the Mittani-period (see below).

Particular finds identified in the field during excavation included a dog or wolf skull and a pig mandible from area J1. Other interesting finds were 3 cattle-bones (left) also in J1, which apparently were deposited or left behind as fresh bone, because there are gnaw-marks of a dog and the additional evidence that adjacent small bones were still attached by ligaments. Thus, slaughtering of the animal –- a large bull or ox –- took place on the plaza. The finds consist of the 2 mandibles and a radius and ulna with the adjacent bones of the carpal joint. An important find was a complete skeleton of a Saluki-type hunting dog from J4. This skeleton was found buried in a pit (probably of the Mittani-Period) in square J4. According to its position in the pit we may assume a real burial of the dog by its owner. According to the shape of the head and the slenderness of its legs the animal was a hunting dog, resembling a modern Saluki in its appearance.

It is interesting that the other animal remains found the area of the burial are relatively rich in bones of hunted animals, including gazelle, deer, and even the now extinct aurochs. Among the domestic animal remains there are several horse bones. One may assume that hunting was an important occupation of the former inhabitants of the area.

A sample of bone splinters from the package of large stones in J3 (q563; f570; K107) was analysed with regard to it sedimentation history: According to fragment-size and edge-conditions the fragment are from reworked sediments farther upslope. Only small fragments were washed to the place where they were excavated.

The analytical part of the 2006 work concentrated on the animal remains excavated in 2004 in area A14. A preliminary species list for the specimens identified during the stay at Tell Mozan between 24.Aug. and 07.Sep.06 is given below. Some specimens need to be identified further with the help of the comparative collection in Tübingen. In due course the individual bone complexes have to be subdivided according to their stratigraphic position. At the time being they can only be treated as a whole and compared as such to other areas of the tell.

In comparison to area A9 (also as a whole), which was analysed in 2004, the finds from A14 yielded a very similar species list, but there are enough differences to assume status differences between the populations, who left their bone refuse in the two areas: while in A9 about 40% of the meat came from cattle, in A14 this was only 30%. The bulk of the meat in A14 came from the pig.

With regard to the hunted animals, there are the same species represented in areas A9 and A14, although in different proportions. A9 had more than double as much remains of hunted animals. In particular the share of the wild goat was much larger there. This animal must have been brought from the mountains to the north, the nearest area where wild goats could have lived in the past being in the surroundings of Mardin. With regard to the ancient environment nothing much can be added to the report on the archaeo-zoological work in 2004.

With regard to the individual domestic species it seems that cattle were of medium size, although some large individuals were also present. Pathologies indicating that the animals were used for labour –- e.g. ploughing or pulling carts –- are rare. According to the ages when the animals were slaughtered, the main use of cattle seems to have been meat production. The same is true for the sheep. Goats, however, were apparently used for milk production, because finds of older females are relatively frequent. Donkey bones are rare both in A9 and A14. Probably they were not consumed regularly, but they must have been the most important animals for transportation, because horses only arrived in northern Mesopotamia at the turn from the 3rd to the 2nd millennium BC. The few finds of horse bones from A14 must have come from the upper parts of the deposits.

As already observed in 2004, the animal economy of the more recent periods at Tell Mozan had a different basic structure. Pigs were less important than before and the emphasis on cattle was much stronger. The role of the small ruminants, sheep and goat, was also strong and the presence of the horse was well established, as can be seen from the graph (Fig. 46c), which represents the quantities of bones from domestic animals found in excavations J1-4 on the temple plaza.

For the future, archaeo-zoological studies of the periods in the first third of the 2nd millennium BC will be of particular importance in order to understand the economic shifts better, which are indicated by the different appearance of the spectra shown above.

Back to top: 6. Appendices

6.6.1.1 Suggestions for the development of the Hassaka Museum

On the occasion of the visit by the Minister of Culture, we had prepared the following notes concerning the proposed development of the Museum in Hassaka. Besides the writers, Dr. Joan Aruz (Chief Curator of the Ancient Near East, MMA) and Dr. Jean Evans (Assistant Curator), contributed a substantial portion of this report.

It was with great pleasure that we were able to visit the construction site of the Museum. It is an impressive building, which will add considerably to the cultural scene in the region and in Syria as a whole. The Mozan/Urkesh Archaeological Project would be delighted to be involved in furthering this project, and we will rely for this aspect on our collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Museum has officially joined our project as a collaborating institution, and members of its curatorial staff have joined us in the field. Together, we would like to propose these preliminary sugges-tions, along with a proposed plan of the main exhibition hall.

We understand that the Hassaka Museum will have four large galleries for exhibitions:
1. Children’s gallery
2. Temporary exhibitions
3.-4. Ancient to modern.

It is suggested that one gallery be devoted to the archaeology of the Jazira (see Fig. 38). The occupation of one gallery has the advantage of being able to bring the project to completion and open the gallery independently of the other galleries. Some material from the sites could be incorporated into other galleries as planning progressed by establishing thematic relationships, e.g., the history of textiles, jewelry manufacture, etc. All casts of ancient objects should be displayed in the children’s gallery because they do not have to be enclosed in cases and in some instances could be available for children to explore more closely –- it also maintains the integrity of the ancient galleries.

Thought should be given to the logistics of bringing a great many objects to Hassaka for storage and display. Besides long-term projects, such as ongoing training in conservation and assistance with creating an infrastructure for such concerns in the Syrian museum system, it is assumed that the aims and expectations for the Hassaka museum should be to provide preliminary conservation efforts and installation assistance for displays that are unlikely to change for a lengthy period of time (similar to Deir ez-Zor). Ideally, conservators already working at area sites would agree to provide some form of assistance in work-ing toward this goal.

Chronological organization is the traditional manner in which a large amount of material can be understood and made accessible to the general public. However, the integration of thematic cases with this chronology helps to distill the didactic element of chronology. We would like therefore to suggest that both elements be present (see plan). The remaining part of the gallery would then be devoted to the individual sites of the region. Ideally, the directors of these sites would agree to participate in planning by suggesting aspects of their site –- whether a certain chronological period or particular industry that came forth in excavation, etc. –- that would be suitable. As suggestions are made, the order of the sites would become evident. Label copy should be standardized.

• Note 1: In the final version of this study all illustrated ceramics will be individually described. _{Back to text}
• Note 2: The strata are indicated as “str.” in the drawings, above the rim. _{Back to text}