Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati 2005

“Introduction to the Archaeo-zoology of the ābi,”
Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 47, pp. 61-66.

One of the most interesting structures uncovered at Urkesh is for sure the underground ābi [for this structure, see also Urkesh website, interpreted as a ‘channel to the Netherworld’ [see mostly Kelly-Buccellati 2002].

In this paper, the author introduces the reader to the archeo-zoology of the ābi [for the analysis of the faunal remains from this context, see Di Martino 2005]: after a description of the structure itself, the author describes its function on the base of the archaeological evidence: “The regular, undisturbed continuity of deposits within this unique monumental architecture, containing animal bones as its major depositional component signalled that very specific activities took place within it, even though the function was not immediately clear at first. [The author then discards the interpretation of the structure as a tomb or as a well]. […] Another hypothesis we considered at first was whether the structure might be a bīt mātim, that is a structure in which a ritual meal (kispum) was celebrated by the king and queen in honor of their ancestors. This hypothesis was also discarded because of the lack of human bones. However the results of the animal bone analysis allowed the connection of our monumental underground structure with Hurrian ritual texts preserved in Hittite archives. The rituals concerned with the calling up of deities of the Netherworld take place in a pit called with the Hurrian name ābi. Prominent among the offerings given to these deities are piglets and puppy dogs. Recently in a lower stratum a part of a ceramic vessel in the shape of a pig was excavated [A12.149: see the hyperlink for pictures]” (p. 64).

Concluding and underlining the importance of such a structure: “The discovery of the function of the monumental underground structure at Urkesh is one of the few instances in Syro-Mesopotamia where archaeological and textual evidence come together to identify the use of a specific type of building, or in this case a pit. […] The interpretation of the Urkesh monumental shaft as a focal point for such rituals is another indication of the strong Hurrian cultural identity of the city of Urkesh” (p. 66).