Stefania Mazzoni

Secure representations of deities in the Syrian and Northmesopotamian region are testified for the first time around the mid 3rd millennium. At least this was the state of our knowledge, before the monumental pillars in Göbekli Tepe came to light, which represent supernatural and at least partly anthropomorphic beeings already in the 9th millennium. The largest two pillars excavated so far, placed in the center of circle D, wear necklaces with a bucranium and a disc-and crescent pendant respectively – motifs, that are generally interpreted as the symbols of the storm god and the moon god. This is especially striking, since these two are known to be the major gods in the same region with important cult centers in Halab, Harran and others, well attested from the late third millennium onwards. Another striking cult object, later called the semeion, mainly venerated in Northern Syria, might have antecedents as well in the PPN. This article discusses if iconographic traditions may have i...

Avec son riche appareil de textes et d’images, le catalogue Royaumes oublies, de l’Empire hittite aux Arameens illustre une exposition qui s’est tenue au musee du Louvre du 2 mai au 12 aout 2019. En raison du theme traite, ainsi que des monuments et des materiaux presentes, de sa dimension culturelle et de ses finalites politiques, cet evenement a constitue une experience tres positive dans le cadre des expositions archeologiques, lesquelles sont parfois difficiles pour un public generaliste,...

Abstract In the current study we use methods in dendrochronological dating, radiocarbon dating and wiggle-matching analysis to accurately date charcoal samples collected from the archaeological site of Usakli Hoyuk, Yozgat, Turkey. These data contribute to the understanding of the stratigraphical relationships in three different contexts of this multi-period mound. The examined charcoal materials were identified as cedar (Cedrus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). The analysis of the cedar samples resulted in establishing a floating chronology with a length of 49 rings. Further analysis of the material revealed that secure dendrochronological dating against the existing reference chronologies cannot be achieved for any of the Usakli Hoyuk samples selected for dendrochronology. This is due to the insufficient length of the developed mean chronology (49 rings), the shortness of single tree-ring sequences (max. 34 rings for cedar and 23 for oak) and the scarcity of reference chronologies that can be used for cross-dating. Therefore, we use radiocarbon tests and wiggle-matching analysis as the main dating method. Radiocarbon testing and further analysis of absolute dating of the charcoal pieces point to three different archaeological periods: the wooden post found in Room 433 of Building III is dated to the range of 1415 – 1363 BCE (2σ), confirming the assumption that it was an architectural element of the original construction of this Late Bronze Age/Hittite building. Radiocarbon dating results of charcoal pieces from the filling of Pit 330, 1008 – 905 BCE (2σ), can only be used tentatively and require cross-checking against additional samples and other organic material from the same context. The results of radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples associated with the Iron Age stone glacis built on top of Building III (763 – 486 BCE, 2σ) confirm that they are associated with the Iron Age occupation at Usakli Hoyuk.

Les empreinteset les sceaux d'Emar forment le corpus glyptique le plus riche et le plus interessant ramene au jour jusqu'? present grace ? la pratique de fouilles intensives de prevention et de protection, ... Nous en voulons pour exemple le volume que Dominique Beyer consacre ...

... Autores: Stefania Mazzoni; Localización: Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Madrid April 3-8 2006: Actas del V Congreso Internacional de Arqueología del Oriente Próximo Antiguo / coord. ...

In the archaeology of death, goods retrieved from burials are usually believed to offer material documentation of the personal belongings of the deceased, accompanying the body and soul to the underworld. Whether these goods were intended for the rites of ceremonial mourning during the funerals and internment or for feeding the deceased or protecting and facilitating his trip in the afterlife, or as gifts to the netherworld divinities, is still a topic of debate (Campbell 1995: 29; Scurlock 1995; Winter 1999). However, once they had been buried in the funerary context of the grave, they were the belongings of the dead, and acted to confirm his nature as deceased and grant beneficial conditions to his last rite of passage. The funerary belongings and grave goods are more often investigated in terms of social hierarchy, the rank and wealth of the deceased being indicated by the their quantity and quality. A gender investigation is more difficult to assess because of the ambiguous nature of the data (Parker Pearson 1999: 95-96). The archaeological funerary evidence which can be assigned on a sound basis to women is very limited; most of our documents derive from old excavations, in which the anthropological data was analyzed incorrectly or not at all. Moreover, we can only ascribe sex to skeletons in a good state of recovery and preservation. These limitations inherent in the data and the fact that most burials cannot be clearly attributed to women or men, often render gender investigation unsatisfactory. However, the available evidence from Mesopotamia and especially Syria consists of both archaeological and visual documents which can supply information on a variety of components and features relating to funerary goods, gender differentiation and ideological values. An investigation of these provides a fairly coherent and univocal picture of funerary practices and their social significance.

The investigations started in 2008 by the University of Florence at the site of Usakli Hoyuk and in its territory have revealed a long local sequence of occupation from the Late Chalcolithic and Bronze and Iron Ages to the Late Roman and Byzantine periods. The presence of a stable network of settlements over this long duration attests to the strategic role of the area east of Yozgat for both the control of the routes across the Anatolian plateau and the exploitation of its favourable environment. Usakli Hoyuk was the main urban centre here, flourishing in the Middle-Late Bronze and Iron Ages, corresponding to the Hittite and Phrygian periods. In 2013-2015 the excavations brought to light sectors of two monumental Hittite buildings, a temple in the lower town and a palace on the acropolis. They show similar architectural elements, the extensive use of stones and monoliths and the regular organization of the plans, which belong to a common Hittite imperial tradition dating to the 15th...

A Ebla, les vestiges archeologiques de la fin du Troisieme Millenaire suivant la destruction du Palais G (apres un certain hiatus) ont ete mis au jour dans plusieurs zones du site, dans des structures autant officielles que privees. La statue d'Ibbit-Lim revele l'existence d'une nouvelle dynastie Amorite aux alentours du 21eme-20eme siecles av. J.-C. ; la dedicace de la statue d'Ishtar et le lieu ou elle a ete trouvee pres du Temple D indiquent que le Palais avait ete (re?)construit a cette epoque. Dans la zone du Palais Archaique egalement, la continuite fonctionnelle et architecturale du site pendant le Bronze Moyen I est illustree par une restructuration majeure, planifiee et generale de la ville (construction des remparts exterieurs, temples et palais dans la ville basse et sur le tertre central). ; A Afis, les elements mis au jour n'indiquent pas clairement un declin du site a cette epoque. Bien au contraire, la decouverte dans la zone E3 d'au moins une ...

1- The datation of the end of the Bronze Age to the early 12th cent. B.C. and the reassessment of the chronology of the 12-11th cent. B.C. Luwian kingdoms argue for a reduction of the Dark Age of Syria and Anatolia and account for the strong continuity documented by the reliefs of Malatya and Karkemish. The consistent activity of a workshop in the region of Karkemish and its vicinity can be connected with the new building programs of the local dinasty. 2 - Founding new cities, towns, fortresses and harbours, building and replanning the old sites, celebrating the new foundations and giving them the royal name, decorating the gates with reliefs which illustrate rituals, worship and triumph are examined as a few aspects of the new urban ideology of Iron Age I (12th-10th cent. B.C.) related to dynastic propaganda. 3 - The sculptured friezes of the 12-10 cent., marked by some degree of continuity with the past and inner coherence, are followed in the 9-8th cent. B.C. by a variety of genr...

The book presents recent studies and research by the students of Paolo Emilio Pecorella, a lecturer in Archaeology and Art History of the Ancient Near East at the University of Florence. The contributions reflect the numerous interests and activities in the field promoted by Pecorella and continued now by his school: in Syria and Mesopotamia (J.S. Baldi, S. Nannucci, V. Orsi, C. Coppini and G. Baccelli), in Anatolia (F. Manuelli, A. D'Agostino, G. Guarducci and S. Valentini), in Cyprus (L. Bombardieri), and in Iran (S. Anastasio).

Des impressions de sceaux-cylindres du EB IV AB ont été trouvées à Ebla sur deux types de poterie: jarres globulaires tripodes et jarres globulaires cannelées. Le premier type était limité à la Syrie du nord, le second était répandu en Syrie centrale, d'Ebla à Hama. C'est ...

Resumen: 1-The datation of the end of the Bronze Age to the early 12th cent. BC and the reassessment of the chronology of the 12-11th cent. BC Luwian kingdoms argue for a reduction of the Dark Age of Syria and Anatolia and account for the strong continuity ...

... In Coastal Syria Tell Kazel, Tell Tweini, Tell Syanu and Ras el Bassit are now the diagnostic sites for this period, while Tell Sukas and 'Arnrith with the area of Tartous and its cemetery provide documents for the later part of Iron Age, namely Iron Age 111, Neo-Assyrian and Neo ...