German and Iraqi archaeologists have completed the excavations of an Assyrian tomb which dates back to the 7th century BC. The grave chamber was discovered last year in Arbil, in the country’s Kurdistan region.
According to the German Archaeological Institute, the vaulted tomb was built by baked bricks and contained at least three sarcophagoi with up to five individuals. In accordance with the ancient burial rites, there was a number of grave goods, such as glazed and un-glazed pottery vessels, lamps and a bronze bowl.
Architectural layout and the furnishing of the grave chamber are well known from other Assyrian capitals with Neo-Assyrian occupation, such as Ashur and Nimrud. Next to this tomb, an archaeological sounding was made, aimed at investigating the context of the tomb. A number of graves have been found, belonging to a cemetery, most probably occupied after the end of the Assyrian empire for several centuries. Below this cemetery, there are remains of mud-brick architecture with the same orientation as of the grave chamber. These walls belong to a building either connected directly to the grave chamber or to a subsequent building with the same orientation.
More tests were done in the area around the grave chamber using ground penetrating radar, in order to detect archaeological sub-surface structures by a non-destructive method. As a result, remains of substantial ancient architecture have been identified. Its orientation and depth are similar to the grave chamber and, therefore, indicate a possible Neo- or Post-Assyrian date. Thus, the hypothesis on the area to be interpreted as an ancient mound with remains of occupation could be confirmed. Although this mound was subject to modern building activities, it is still visible today. Therefore, the area investigated shows a substantial potential for further archaeological research.
The work carried out in November 2009 as part of an educational training initiative for young Iraqi-Kurdish archaeologists. Funding was provided by the “Official Development Assistance” of the German Federal Government and by the Governor of the Arbil Region, Iraq.
The German team consisted of Dr Arnulf Hausleiter of the institute’s Orient Department co-ordinating the archaeological fieldwork, as well as of seven specialists in archaeology, excavation techniques, physical anthropology, conservation, photography and geophysics implementing specific training measures in excavation and recording methods in the field as well as in the conservation of archaeological objects. On the Iraqi-Kurdish side nine members of the Department of Antiquities, Arbil, and students of the Salahaddin University participated to the excavation and recording activities with great success.
Source: German Archaeological Institute
