“Tell Mozan,”
Syrian Archaeology Bulletin 2, pp. 4-7.
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The results of UCLA's 5th and 6th archaeological missions at Tell Mozan (years 1988 and 1990) are here presented.
A first feature of the site is stressed at the very beginning: “A major characteristic of Mozan is that third millennium material is found immediately below the surface at most locations of the tell” (p. 4).
The authors then move to describe the structure and development of Temple BA (insisting on area B), investigated from phase 1 to phase 4, comparing the structure of the building with temples at Tell Khuera and Ebla (temple D).
A large stepped trench opened in area A revealed the presence of the large public building A1. From one of these trenches comes a bearded human head, found near to the city gate in area AS.
In area F1, chosen because of a preliminary survey published in Mozan 1, 'Ninevite V' pottery was found on the surface, and later a large store area was detected: from this area two cuneiform (Akkadian) administrative tablets were found (dating to ca. 2300-2200 BC), the northernmost third-millennium cuneiform texts discovered, so far (for their publication, see Mozan 2.
Further independent researches have also been undertaken, namely: 1) topographical survey of the mound; 2) geophysical survey; 3) geomorphological survey; 4) analysis of anthropological and zoological remains; 5) a series of kite photography; 6) data processing (intended to produce a 'global record' [for which see Urkesh website]; 7) completion of the excavation house.
[M. De Pietri – November 2019]