Jaafar Jotheri (Department of Archaeology, University of Al-Qadisiyah), reports on the latest news regarding the ancient Iraqi heritage. The years 2018-2019 have seen many and varied activities: we are grateful to Jaafar for this interesting overview on archaeological excavations and international conferences that took place in many Iraqi regions.

* Please note that this report has been recently updated: if you wish to let us know of any additional expedition or event that should be added to these lists, write to stefania.ermidoro@iaassyriology.com

 

After the defeat of IS and liberation of Iraqi territories from terrorist groups, the security and economic situation of Iraq have rapidly recovered. So many concrete walls and army checkpoints that filled Iraqi cities have been removed.

Both the public and private sectors have increased their investments in services and education. As a result, the heritage sector has also faced a fresh development as so many national and international surveys and excavation teams have started or resumed their work in the middle and southern parts of Iraq.

These teams have started to work in the field without the need for such intensive security as before. Field seasons became several months rather than several days or weeks as was usual before.

Moreover, not only has the SBAH developed and increased its activities and events, but Iraqi Universities have also started playing their part in terms of hosting heritage meetings or carrying out heritage projects.

In summary, the last twelve months were the most fruitful since 2003 and it seems that the next year will be busy too.

The Birkbeck University of London mission in Bahr Al-Najaf. © Jaafar Jotheri

 

Excavations during the period of the Winter 2018 and Spring 2019

  • Abu Tbeirah: Excavations by University of Rome La Sapienza and an Iraqi team.
  • al-Hira: Archaeological work, including excavation and magnetometer surveys, undertaken by the German Archaeological Institute and Goethe Universität Frankfurt.
  • Al-Maqlubah: State Board of Antiquities and Heritage excavations.
  • Bab-w-Kur: University of Copenhagen excavations.
  • Bahr Al-Najaf: Survey by Birkbeck University of London.
  • Bakr Awa: Excavations conducted by the University of Heidelberg.
  • Ban Qala: Excavation led by colleagues at the Freer/Sackler, University of California, Berkeley, and Suleimaniyah Antiquities Department.
  • Bash Tapa: Excavations led by Collège de France and CNRS Paris.
  • Bestansur: University of Reading excavation of the Neolithic site, part of the Central Zagros Archaeological Project (CZAP). Also has Neo-Assyrian occupation excavated by the University of British Columbia.
  • Charax Spasinou: Survey and excavation project led by the University of Manchester.
  • Dilbat: Babylon University excavations.
  • Eastern Fertile Crescent Prehistoric Project: University of Liverpool-led survey.
  • Eastern Habur Survey: University of Tübingen survey of the region, including excavations at Bassetki.
  • Eastern Qadisiyah Region (QADIS): Archaeological survey conducted by the University of Qadisiyah and University of Bologna. Includes intensive surface survey of the site of Tell Shuruppak (Fara).
  • Erbil Citadel Projects: University of West Bohemia Plzeň project working on the Erbil citadel. UNESCO has also sponsored restoration work, and the German Archaeological Institute and Italian Archaeological Mission in Erbil have conducted excavations and surveys.
  • Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey (EPAS): Survey led by Harvard University.
  • Eridu: Survey, excavation and conservation project by the Iraqi-Italian Archaeological Mission.
  • Girsu: British Museum-led project, including conservation and training of Iraqi archaeologists.
  • Gird-i Qala and Logardan: University of Paris I and IFPO mission.
  • Gird-i Qalrakh: University of Frankfurt excavation.
  • Gird-i Rostam: Excavation led by New York University (ISAW), Ludwig Maximilians University-Munich, and the Suleimaniyah Directorate of Antiquities.
  • Gird-i Tle: Tsukuba University-led excavation.
  • Gurga Chiya/Tepe Marani: Excavation led by University College London.
  • Helawa: University of Milan mission.
  • Kani Shaie: Excavation led by University of Pennsylvania and University of Coimbra (Portugal).
  • Kunara: Excavation by University of Paris I/CNRS.
  • Kurd Qaburstan: Johns Hopkins University excavations.
  • Lagash Archaeological Project (LAP): Collaboration between University of Cambridge, University of Pennsylvania (USA) and Iraq State Board of Antiquities and Heritage.
  • Land of Nineveh Project (LoNAP): Survey led by the Italian Archaeological Mission to Assyria (University of Udine), including excavation and soil sampling of Tell Gomel.
  • Larsa-‘Oueili: Renewed archaeological work conducted by French archaeologists (University of Paris I and IFPO).
  • Long Term Environmental and Historical Change: University of Chicago, University College London, University of al-Qadissiyah and collaborators project.
  • Mapping Mesopotamian Monuments: Survey and mapping project led by Columbia University.
  • Nahrain Network: University College London has funded a number of heritage projects across Iraq since 2017 and is continuing until 2021. 7 small and large grants have been granted in the last few months.
  • Nimrud Stabilization Project: Project by the Smithsonian Institution Cultural Rescue Initiative, together with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage.
  • Nippur: Exploratory excavation let by the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago.
  • Paikuli Project: Study of statuary and inscriptions by the Italian Archaeological Mission in Iraqi Kurdistan and the Slemani Museum. Also includes excavation and survey.
  • Peshdar Plain Project: Excavations, survey and paleo-ecological study in the region, led by University of Munich.
  • Qalatga Darband (Darband-i Rania): British Museum-led excavation and regional archaeological project. Includes training of Iraqi archaeologists.
  • Qasr Shemamok: University of Lyon excavations.
  • Rabana-Merquly: Photogrammetry, survey and excavations led by Heidelberg University and Iraqi Kurdistan Department of Antiquties.
  • Rania Plain: Survey and excavations by the Netherlands Institute for the Near East (NINO) and University of Copenhagen.
  • Rowanduz Archaeological Program (RAP): Survey and excavations led by ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives.
  • Satu Qala: University of Leipzig excavations.
  • Shanidar Cave: Excavation by University of Cambridge.
  • Sirwan Project: Survey led by Glasgow University, Dartmouth College, and Garmian Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage. Includes excavation at Khani Masi.
  • Slemania Regional Survey (MAFGS): Survey conducted by the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, with IFPO and the Slemani Department of Antiquities.
  • Surezha: Excavations by the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago.
  • Tell Begum: Surface survey and excavation by University of Leiden.
  • Tell Khaiber: University of Manchester project.
  • Tell Nader: University of Athens excavations.
  • Tell Shamlu (Gird-i Shamlu): Excavation by the University of Munich.
  • Tell Shemshara: Excavations conducted by University of Reading (focusing on prehistoric periods) and the Netherlands Institute for the Near East (historic periods).
  • Tell Zurghul (Nigin): Project led by the University of Rome La Sapienza and University of Perugia.
  • Tulul al-Baqarat: Excavations led by Centro Ricerche Archeologiche e Scavi di Torino and University of Torino.
  • Tell Al-Makhada: University of Al-Qadisiyah project.
  • Umma (Tell Jokha): Excavation led by the Slovak Archaeological and Historical Institute.
  • Umm al-Aqarib: Excavations led by the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage.
  • Upper Greater Zab Archaeological Reconnaissance (UGZAR): Survey led by the Institute of Archaeology of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
  • Ur: Intensive surface survey and archaeological investigations by the State University of New York at Stony Brook, University of Pennsylvania, LMU Munich, and collaborators.
  • Uruk: Renewed archaeological work conducted by the German Archaeological Institute.
  • Yasin Tepe: Tsukuba University-led excavation.

The British Museum mission in Girsu (Tello). © Jaafar Jotheri

 

Some of the Archaeological Meetings which took place during the period of the Winter 2018 and Spring 2019

  • In 25th November 2018 Imam Hussein Endowment held its first international archaeological conference. Scholars form Germany, UK, France, Canada, Iran and Arab countries participated.
  • In 21st November 2018 the Faculty of Archaeology, University of Al-Qadisiyah held its first international archaeological conference. Scholars form Germany and UK participated.
  • In 20th April 2019 the University of Kufa held its second international archaeological conference in partnership with Cambridge, Oxford and Chicago Universities.
  • 17th April 2019 the Faculty of Arts, University of Babylon held its third international conference including an archaeological session. Scholars from the UK attended.
  • In 24th April 2018 the Faculty of Arts in ThiQar University held a meeting to discuss archaeological survey using modern techniques. Scholars from the UK attended.

Al-Qadisiyah University: first international archaeological conference. © Jaafar Jotheri

Categories: Mar Shiprim