Books by Gabriele Giacosa
OrientLab Series Major Vol.6, 2021
The aim of the Turco-Italian archaeological expedition at Karkemish, directed by Nicolò Marchetti... more The aim of the Turco-Italian archaeological expedition at Karkemish, directed by Nicolò Marchetti since 2011, is to employ a long-term integrated research strategy to shed light on the history of the town, explore its urban layout and cultural sequence through the ages, contextualize the site within its landscape, conserve it and present it to the public. The new investigations are bringing critical new information about the role of the city, especially during Late Bronze Age II (henceforth LB) as the seat of the imperial Hittite viceroy, Iron Age I and II (henceforth IA) as the capital of a Neo-Hittite kingdom, and IA III as part of the Neo-Assyrian empire. Exploration of the Classical (Hellenistic, Roman, and Early Byzantine) and Islamic periods is also relevant to the reconstruction of the urban history of Karkemish. We present here the final report on the intensive survey carried out by the Turco-Italian Expedition at the cemetery of Yunus between 2011 and 2012. This survey was meant to address a number of questions left unanswered by the 1910s British Museum excavations.
Papers by Gabriele Giacosa
Sumer 66, 2020
This paper presents a synthesis of the results by the 2016-2018 Iraqi-Italian QADIS survey projec... more This paper presents a synthesis of the results by the 2016-2018 Iraqi-Italian QADIS survey project in the eastern Qadisiyah region. The first part of the report discusses
the state-of-art in the field of landscape archaeology highlighting models, challenges and needs. A detailed analysis of the preliminary sequence of the pottery assemblages, as
defined during our fiedlwork, from the later prehistory until the Ottoman period follows. We then proceed to discuss the research methodology and provide some glimpses into the development of settlement patterns and of urban layouts, before concluding with an assessment on the endangered archaeological heritage of the region.
News from the Lands of the Hittites. Scientific Journal for Anatolian Research, 2019
Formation, Organisation and Development of Iron Age Societies. A Comparative View (Proceedings of the Workshop held at 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016), 2020
Karkemish on the Euphrates is a gateway site for the Syro-Anatolian and northern Mesopotamian reg... more Karkemish on the Euphrates is a gateway site for the Syro-Anatolian and northern Mesopotamian region. The renewed excavations carried out by the Turco-Italian Expedition since 2011 brought to light much new evidence allowing us to tackle issues on the formation, organisation and development of Iron Age societies. This paper analyses the chronological differentiations within the early 1st millennium BC pottery assemblages from Karkemish in comparison with the commonly shared chronological framework based on historic and art-historic sources (Iron Age I–II). Moreover, we will attempt to understand which regional trends contributed to the formation and development of the ceramic horizon during this period.
Measurement, 2018
A systematic archaeometrical investigation on the ceramic assemblage from Karkamış Höyük, ancient... more A systematic archaeometrical investigation on the ceramic assemblage from Karkamış Höyük, ancient Karkemish started in 2016, mainly focusing on Iron Age materials. Fundamental and effective cross correlated analytical strategy is proposed and highlighted different crystal structure and minero-chemical composition of samples, specifically selected to represent all technological ceramic classes. This work reports on the first step of a broader program of analyses on both sherds and raw clay, with the aim to connect results from the local material with data from surrounding sites between the Mediterranean coast and the Euphrates Valley.
Ocnus, 2016
Phoenician Fine Ware bowls provide important insights for reconstructing connections during late ... more Phoenician Fine Ware bowls provide important insights for reconstructing connections during late Iron Age I and Iron Age II (10th-8th centuries BC), throughout the southern Levant and between the Near East and the western Mediterranean. However, the debate on the origin of this ceramic class is open and many questions on its production are still unsolved. The aim of this paper is that of analysing the Fine Ware discovered at select Mediterranean sites, in order to better understand aspects of the Phoenician trade and colonization during the Iron Age. In the first place, a morphological analysis of Fine Ware features is proposed: analysis of fabric and surface treatment is combined with a typological classification of both Levantine and Mediterranean assemblages. On the basis of these analyses, some hypotheses about the role of Phoenician Fine Ware, its social meaning and connections during the Iron Age are proposed.
Posters by Gabriele Giacosa
Since 2019, the Iraqi-Italian Archaeological Expedition has resumed work on the eastern half of t... more Since 2019, the Iraqi-Italian Archaeological Expedition has resumed work on the eastern half of the Nineveh. The continuous encroachment of the modern city of Mosul represents to this day a constant threat for the ancient site: for this reason, a number of excavation areas has been opened before the complete obliteration of the archaeological remains. Among others, Area F (located 700 m east of Nebi Yunus mound) provided interesting insights on the later occupation of Nineveh, with several phases of domestic structures, with evidence of agriculture related activities dating to the late Hellenistic-Parthian and Medieval periods. This evidence is a further tile to define and reconstruct the life of a settlement built on a once great capital.
Excavations carried out at Karkemish in Area S (2015-2019) provided an insight on the monumental ... more Excavations carried out at Karkemish in Area S (2015-2019) provided an insight on the monumental construction policy undertaken by the rulers of the city between the fall of the Hittite Empire in the early 12th century and the re-building program of Katuwa at the end of the 10th century BCE. A large, above-ground storage structure was uncovered at the western margin of the Lower Palace Area, unparalleled for features and size at the site and in neighbouring areas. The poster aims at addressing the architectural and economic value of the building, placing it in its historical context and underlining the connection with models from the earlier Hittite world. This evidence is an additional element to confirm that Karkemish not only experienced limited change at the very beginning of the Iron Age (due to the lack of any destruction at the site) but could still afford large building programs within the core of the city.
Proceedings of the 3rd IMEKO International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Lecce, Italy, October 23-25, 2017, 2017
The purpose of this poster is to highlight some cultural connections between the upper Middle Eup... more The purpose of this poster is to highlight some cultural connections between the upper Middle Euphrates Valley and the Eastern Mediterranean, focusing in particular on Cyprus, the Levantine, and the Aegean coasts. This analysis particularly concerns both the pottery assemblage and the coroplastic
repertoire.
As for the ceramic horizon, some specimens of Black on Red (BoR) pottery retrieved at Karkemish are taken into consideration. Among these, jugs and juglets belonging to this class have been found in funerary contexts, together with local simple wares. A typological analysis of some of these kraters
and jars is provided, in order to attest the presence of a local production, but related to the Mediterranean coast. These ceramic traditions and influences seem to have moved from Cypriot centres to Al Mina and then throughout the Amuq Valley up to the city of Karkemish, which can be considered as the easternmost point of spread of the BoR pottery.
On the other hand, the iconographic analysis of the lron Age day figurines from Karkemish reveals some important similarities with the Aegean world. In particular, the elaborate headdresses worn by the Syrian Pillar Figurines (SPF) represent a relevant link with a W est Anatolian style as it is being currently newly defined. This East-West influence may reveal not a mere transmission of iconographies, but also a shared inter-cultural tradition in the public role of women.
Conference Presentations by Gabriele Giacosa
Karkemish and its Regional Context: Celebrating 15 Seasons on the Field, 2023
Excavations carried out at Karkemish in Area S (2015-2019) provided an insight on the monumental ... more Excavations carried out at Karkemish in Area S (2015-2019) provided an insight on the monumental construction policy undertaken by the rulers of the city between the fall of the Hittite Empire in the early 12th century BCE and the re-building program of Katuwa at the end of the 10th century BCE. A large, above-ground storage structure was uncovered at the western margin of the Lower Palace Area, unparalleled for features and size at the site and neighbouring settlements. The paper aims at addressing the architectural and economic value of the building, placing it in its historical context and underlining the connection with models from the earlier Hittite world. This evidence is an additional element to confirm that Karkemish not only experienced limited change at the very beginning of the Iron age (due to the lack of any destruction at the site) but could still afford large building programs within the core of the city.
Karkemish and its Regional Context: Celebrating 15 Seasons on the Field, 2023
Fifteen campaigns of excavations at Karkemish provided a wealth of fine-tuned data to reconstruct... more Fifteen campaigns of excavations at Karkemish provided a wealth of fine-tuned data to reconstruct the complex history of the city during the Iron I-III periods (1175-530 BCE). The remarkable settlement continuity documented in numerous areas of the site allowed to obtain detailed pottery sequences and a rich corpus of radiocarbon dates stretching the entire period. This data coupled with the numerous historical sources available offers an unprecedented opportunity to better understand the history of the city during the Iron Age period. Similar approaches recently applied at neighbouring sites like Tell Tayinat, represent an opportunity to frame the evidence from Karkemish in the wider regional scenario. By integrating radiocarbon determinations and pottery assemblages from the well-stratified and uninterrupted sequences of areas C, G and S with the available historical dates for the Iron age, this paper aims to trace a new reconstruction of Iron age chronology at Karkemish in the context of the urban trajectories of the Northern Levant and the Middle Euphrates.
Neo-Assyrian Nineveh represents an unrivalled example of pre-Classical metropolis in Western Asia... more Neo-Assyrian Nineveh represents an unrivalled example of pre-Classical metropolis in Western Asia. However, available information on its urban layout beyond its city walls has been limited so far and is mainly based on sporadic evidence and generic assumptions. The paper aims at revising and updating current interpretations, by dealing with the structural and material evidence from the geophysical analysis and excavations conducted since 2020 in the North-Eastern sector of Nineveh by the Iraqi-Italian Archaeological Expedition by SBAH and the University of Bologna under the direction of Nicolò Marchetti. These operations have led to define an articulated urban plan, with buildings of different sizes organised in a relatively tight grid of streets and alleys, substantially deviating from the mainstream assumption of this area as characterized by gardens, pastures or low-density dwelling.
The paper focuses on the definition of a model for understanding the levels of interaction within... more The paper focuses on the definition of a model for understanding the levels of interaction within and between settlements of differing scales, considering their ceramic assemblages as a meaningful source of historical data. To achieve this task, a few sites in the Northern Levant with Iron Age evidence (12th-7th centuries BCE) have been selected on the basis of geographical and historical reasons and, especially, because they do feature well-published stratigraphies. Using statistical and network analysis, this research aims at defining a clearer framework for these settlements, i.e. to what (varying) degree they are related one to another, from the perspective of and with aim of identifying “ceramic communities”.
Closed in by the Amanus Mountains and the Kurt Mountains, the narrow valley of Islahiye (Gaziante... more Closed in by the Amanus Mountains and the Kurt Mountains, the narrow valley of Islahiye (Gaziantep Province, South-Eastern Turkey) held a highly strategic significance, over time, for the connections between Upper Mesopotamian and Levantine lowlands on the one hand, the Anatolian highlands on the other.
A joint Turco-Italian team by the Universities of Bologna and Istanbul – directed by N. Marchetti - focused, between 2003 and 2010, on two sites of the MBA and LBA, Taşlı Geçit Höyük and Tilmen Höyük.
Connections with Anatolian, Inner Syrian and Middle Euphrates cultural traditions are evident from several traits of the local material culture.
As far as the LB ceramic inventory is concerned, plain wares represented the largest majority of the ceramic assemblages, while painted wares embodied a minor component of the corpus. Nevertheless, their presence seems to be the trace of further superregional processes.
In a diachronic perspective, the integrated analysis of the ceramic sequences and contexts of retrieval from the two sites provides further insights into the regional ceramic tradition, allowing to better delineate and evaluate the nature and significance of the external traits and influences.
Conferences/Workshops Organisation by Gabriele Giacosa
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Books by Gabriele Giacosa
Papers by Gabriele Giacosa
the state-of-art in the field of landscape archaeology highlighting models, challenges and needs. A detailed analysis of the preliminary sequence of the pottery assemblages, as
defined during our fiedlwork, from the later prehistory until the Ottoman period follows. We then proceed to discuss the research methodology and provide some glimpses into the development of settlement patterns and of urban layouts, before concluding with an assessment on the endangered archaeological heritage of the region.
Posters by Gabriele Giacosa
repertoire.
As for the ceramic horizon, some specimens of Black on Red (BoR) pottery retrieved at Karkemish are taken into consideration. Among these, jugs and juglets belonging to this class have been found in funerary contexts, together with local simple wares. A typological analysis of some of these kraters
and jars is provided, in order to attest the presence of a local production, but related to the Mediterranean coast. These ceramic traditions and influences seem to have moved from Cypriot centres to Al Mina and then throughout the Amuq Valley up to the city of Karkemish, which can be considered as the easternmost point of spread of the BoR pottery.
On the other hand, the iconographic analysis of the lron Age day figurines from Karkemish reveals some important similarities with the Aegean world. In particular, the elaborate headdresses worn by the Syrian Pillar Figurines (SPF) represent a relevant link with a W est Anatolian style as it is being currently newly defined. This East-West influence may reveal not a mere transmission of iconographies, but also a shared inter-cultural tradition in the public role of women.
Conference Presentations by Gabriele Giacosa
A joint Turco-Italian team by the Universities of Bologna and Istanbul – directed by N. Marchetti - focused, between 2003 and 2010, on two sites of the MBA and LBA, Taşlı Geçit Höyük and Tilmen Höyük.
Connections with Anatolian, Inner Syrian and Middle Euphrates cultural traditions are evident from several traits of the local material culture.
As far as the LB ceramic inventory is concerned, plain wares represented the largest majority of the ceramic assemblages, while painted wares embodied a minor component of the corpus. Nevertheless, their presence seems to be the trace of further superregional processes.
In a diachronic perspective, the integrated analysis of the ceramic sequences and contexts of retrieval from the two sites provides further insights into the regional ceramic tradition, allowing to better delineate and evaluate the nature and significance of the external traits and influences.
Conferences/Workshops Organisation by Gabriele Giacosa
the state-of-art in the field of landscape archaeology highlighting models, challenges and needs. A detailed analysis of the preliminary sequence of the pottery assemblages, as
defined during our fiedlwork, from the later prehistory until the Ottoman period follows. We then proceed to discuss the research methodology and provide some glimpses into the development of settlement patterns and of urban layouts, before concluding with an assessment on the endangered archaeological heritage of the region.
repertoire.
As for the ceramic horizon, some specimens of Black on Red (BoR) pottery retrieved at Karkemish are taken into consideration. Among these, jugs and juglets belonging to this class have been found in funerary contexts, together with local simple wares. A typological analysis of some of these kraters
and jars is provided, in order to attest the presence of a local production, but related to the Mediterranean coast. These ceramic traditions and influences seem to have moved from Cypriot centres to Al Mina and then throughout the Amuq Valley up to the city of Karkemish, which can be considered as the easternmost point of spread of the BoR pottery.
On the other hand, the iconographic analysis of the lron Age day figurines from Karkemish reveals some important similarities with the Aegean world. In particular, the elaborate headdresses worn by the Syrian Pillar Figurines (SPF) represent a relevant link with a W est Anatolian style as it is being currently newly defined. This East-West influence may reveal not a mere transmission of iconographies, but also a shared inter-cultural tradition in the public role of women.
A joint Turco-Italian team by the Universities of Bologna and Istanbul – directed by N. Marchetti - focused, between 2003 and 2010, on two sites of the MBA and LBA, Taşlı Geçit Höyük and Tilmen Höyük.
Connections with Anatolian, Inner Syrian and Middle Euphrates cultural traditions are evident from several traits of the local material culture.
As far as the LB ceramic inventory is concerned, plain wares represented the largest majority of the ceramic assemblages, while painted wares embodied a minor component of the corpus. Nevertheless, their presence seems to be the trace of further superregional processes.
In a diachronic perspective, the integrated analysis of the ceramic sequences and contexts of retrieval from the two sites provides further insights into the regional ceramic tradition, allowing to better delineate and evaluate the nature and significance of the external traits and influences.