Paul van Ginneken 2000

“De Hurrieten van Tell Mozan,”
Spiegel Historiael 6, pp. 262-269.
Webpage

In this paper (in Dutch), the author summarizes in detail the paths of the excavations at Tell Mozan/Urkesh, undertaken by Buccellati and Kelly-Buccellati, starting from 1984 onwards.
     After a general introduction, sketching the academic and archaeological profiles of the excavators (including their previous works at Terqa and Amuda), the paper retraces the beginning of the survey in the area of Tell Mozan toward its identification with Urkesh. A brief note is also devoted to recall the importance of the Tiš-atal lion and inscription kept at the Louvre Museum (AO 19937-19938).

The author also briefly mentions Max Mallowan’s works in that area, quoting his memoires written by Agatha Christie (Come, tell me how you live).

Afterwards, the author presents an overview on the history of the Mesopotamian area in the third millennium BC, introducing the reader to the Sumerian, Akkadian and Hurrian history.

Furthermore, the results of the excavations at Tell Mozan are presented: the discovery of temple BA, the building AK (where many seal impressions have been found), including those quoting the king Tupkish, the queen Uqnitum and the nurse Zamena.

The paper continues in telling the history of the Mittanian kingdom, exposing its relationship with the Hittites and Egypt during the second millennium BC and ends with some ‘latest news’ regarding the recent (at the time of the publication) excavation season at Tell Mozan, in 1999.