Giorgio Buccellati and Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati

     Area AA (the Royal Palace area) at Urkesh has been further investigated in the 12^th joined season of IIMAS and DOG, in 1999: the results of this archaeological campaign are reported herewith.
     After an introduction (section 1), describing the most important outcomings (the retrieving of the name of Tar’am-Agade, Naram-Sin's daughter, the investigations in Area C2 with the discovery of a sealings cache), section 2 explains the goals and further investigates the results.
     The main objectives in Area AA where: 1) “to complete the excavation of sector C” 2) “to continue the excavation of the courtyard (sector F)” 3) “to excavate the Khabur period strata in A11” [for a location of these sectors, see this picture].
     However, unpredictably, “two unexpected factors altered rather drastically our expectations. At the same time that we uncovered the southeastern corner of AK, we also realized that a second major building had been constructed alongside the eastern AK wall. It became soon apparent that the two structures were intimately connected, so as to be considered two wings of the same building” (p. 135).
     Section 3 describes the formal wing (AF) of the Palace (sector H), linking it with the service wing (AK), to the outer spaces (AO) to the South and to the post-palace houses (AH) to South-East. In room H2 (see plan in fig. 1, on p. 137, for the location), a cache with many sealing has been uncovered, also conserving the sealing of Tar’am-Agade (AFc1) and of two other officials, Ewrim-Atal and Ishar-Beli [for which see Buccellati and Kelly-Buccellati 2001a and Buccellati and Kelly-Buccellati 2002].
     Section 4 explores the courtyard in sector F, exposing several surprises occurred in area A9 (see A9: pictures).
     Section 5 presents the possible uncovering of a scribal quarter in sector C [cf. Buccellati and Kelly-Buccellati 2001a], where a tablet fragment was found (A10.163, a fragmentary record of copper), identifying the iwan structure as a possible scribal installation (specific reason for such an interpretation are summarised on pp. 143-146).
     Section 6 investigates structures on the exterior of the palace, in sectors W [a platform, cf. Buccellati and Kelly-Buccellati 2001b] and X [earlier interpreted as a tholos or a mortuary chapel, cf. Buccellati and Kelly-Buccellati 2002].
     Section 7 reconstructs the residential quarters in the time of the 'Bitumen Use Ceramic Tradition' (in sectors G and E/I of wing AK). – [Figs. 6-7 on pp. 150-151 display two tables with the stratigraphic sequence A (divided in singular phases and singular strata, respectively) for area AA].
     Section 8 summarises the major occupational phases of the palace: 1) pre-palace structures in AO (Sargonid period); 2) palace occupation of AK (Tupkish/Uqnitum period = Manishtushu/early Naram-Sin period); 2a) fire in portions of AF and perhaps in rooms C1 and C4 of AK (Tar’am-Agade period = late Naram-Sin/[Shar-kali-sharri] period); 3) non-palace occupation of AK (= Shar-kali-sharri/Dudu/Shu-Durul period); 4-5) post-palace settlement above the palace (= [Guti?]/Ur III/Isin-Larsa period).
     Section 9 collects some historical implications: 1) as for chronology, the aforementioned sequence implies that a) the lower AK accumulations belong in the early Naram-Sin period and b) “that the palace and post-palace sequences stretches over a period of time that is of considerable significance, in that it goes from Naram-Sin into the Khabur period” (p. 153); 2) as for the political role of Urkesh, it is clear that the city was not a peripheral entity, but a town fully integrated in a framework of strong relationships with both the North and the South.
     Section 10 offers a note on an important clay statuette dated to the period just following the destruction of AF and found in a pit cutting the outer wall of AK on its Southern side (feature 194, a possible favissa) [item A12.30; for a picture, see photo V12d5209]: it portrays a female figure, in a very expressionistic style, which can be parallel to other items from Ebla, thus dating to the last third millennium BC.
     Section 11 describes computer network and digital photography [for which see Urkesh website, under Methodology].
     Section 12 (by S. Bonetti) describes the new conservation laboratory [for which see Urkesh website, under Laboratory], underlining the role of specialists, the renewed lab itself, and the organization of the conservation activities.
     Section 13 (by A. Ali) presents the strategies applied for architectural conservation, with the following aims: a) to protect the walls; b) to create a non-intrusive system of covering; c) to give a real perception of the walls; d) to guarantee a easy-removable covering structure.
     Section 14 (by M. Kelly- Buccellati) describes ceramics from the service wing AF of the Royal Palace, explaining her methodology at first, and then offering a punctual overview on the main ceramic shapes, distributed by phases and analysed by strata and functional types.

[M. De Pietri – November 2019]