Introduction

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Time distribution

From our excavations at Mozan/Urkesh we have evidence of a continuous history of seal use from the mid fourth millennium through the Mittani period. This time span represents all the periods in which Mozan/Urkesh was occupied – an impressive record of sphragistic acknowledgment over such a long period of time.

As is to be expected, the amount and nature of evidence varies from one level to the other. This coincides with the differing stratigraphic exposures fo the various time periods. When we have a more extensive stratigraphic coverage then invariably we have a large number of seal impressions.

For example, this is the case in the royal palace of Tupkish (AP; MZA Phase 4) where the floors of the palace yielded over a thousand seal impressions and the floors representing the later use of the palace architecture (which we have interpreted as a subsidiary administrative building and no longer a palace) also yielded a large number of seal impressions. Above this administrative building the use of the area changed into one of scattered occupation and some burials.

Next to the outer palace wall on the south the necromantic pit, called in Hurrian abi, continued in use. Even in this phase of less intensive occupation (MZA Phase 5) there were a few seal impressions discovered.

We have a limited exposure from the Khabur period (MZA Phase 6).

For the succeeding Mittani period (MZA Phase 7) we have a deep exposure just outside the revetment wall on the south and south-west but the nature of this stratigraphic emplacement (an open plaza) was such that seal use would not be expected.

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Seals and seal impressions

Our evidence from Mozan was for the most part seal impressions with only a few cylinder seals discovered. One cylinder seal discovered in A9 (A9q3.1), the service courtyard but this was exceptional. Because almost all of the evidence from these seal impressions was broken the study of the seal impressions entailed a complex methodology discussed in the next section on Field Methodology.

In the palace and the administrative building above it seals were employed for the most part for sealing containers such as baskets, boxes and jars. In the palace, especially in the palace working courtyard (excavated in unit A9) there were a number of door sealings used for the doors between that courtyard and the service rooms to the south of it.

On the eastern side of the high mound a deposit of sealings was found in unit K1; we have interpreted these as coming from a dump dating to the Early Dynastic 3 period. (see Mozan 1 and LR here in …..?).