DOI Artikel:
Gawlikowski, Michał: The first season of excavations in Hatra Iraq
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26389#0121
THE FIRST SEASON OF EXCAVATIONS IN HATRA, IRAQ
by Michat Gawlikowski
Following the kind invitation of Dr. Moayed Saeed Damerji, Director General of
Antiquities and Heritage, an archaeological mission work in Hatra from March 10 to April
14, 1990.1 We found there very favorable conditions of work and rest, and most of all
the efficient, friendly cooperation of our Iraqi colleagues, Sd. ManhalJaber in Mosul and
Sd. Hikmat Bashir el-Aswad in Hatra itself. It is our pleasant duty to acknowledge their
very valuable help and to thank them most, cordially for all they have done. We also
extend these thanks to the appointed Representative of the Directorate General, Sd.
Mohammad Ahmad Daud, who assisted us daily in our work.
As it had been settled with the Directorate General during my previous visit to
Iraq, the activities of the mission were to include the recording and study of the
defence walls of Hatra on one hand, and on the other soundings in the main temple court
in search of traces of the original settlement. However, during the first days of our stay
we found what seemed to be the line of the oldest walls of Hatra, halfway between the
great temple and the walls standing on the southern side of the city. Accordingly, I
requested the permission to check these observations through digging. I can say now
that our expectations have been fully confirmed.
Meanwhile our recording of the standing walls started at the SE corner of the
fortifications and went along the eastern front for about 500m up to the East Gate,
recently restored. The main features of this imposing defensive system can be studied
already from this sample, but we intend to proceed further with the recording.
The defences are built in depth for about 30m, beginning with an earthen wall and
a ditch, and including the main wall with towers and parallel inner wall, both in
mudbrick on stone foundations and both over 3m thick. The original height of the walls
The mission included Messrs. Janusz Bylirtski and Tomasz
Herbich (both archaeologists), Adam Dolot (architect) and the
present writer.
119
by Michat Gawlikowski
Following the kind invitation of Dr. Moayed Saeed Damerji, Director General of
Antiquities and Heritage, an archaeological mission work in Hatra from March 10 to April
14, 1990.1 We found there very favorable conditions of work and rest, and most of all
the efficient, friendly cooperation of our Iraqi colleagues, Sd. ManhalJaber in Mosul and
Sd. Hikmat Bashir el-Aswad in Hatra itself. It is our pleasant duty to acknowledge their
very valuable help and to thank them most, cordially for all they have done. We also
extend these thanks to the appointed Representative of the Directorate General, Sd.
Mohammad Ahmad Daud, who assisted us daily in our work.
As it had been settled with the Directorate General during my previous visit to
Iraq, the activities of the mission were to include the recording and study of the
defence walls of Hatra on one hand, and on the other soundings in the main temple court
in search of traces of the original settlement. However, during the first days of our stay
we found what seemed to be the line of the oldest walls of Hatra, halfway between the
great temple and the walls standing on the southern side of the city. Accordingly, I
requested the permission to check these observations through digging. I can say now
that our expectations have been fully confirmed.
Meanwhile our recording of the standing walls started at the SE corner of the
fortifications and went along the eastern front for about 500m up to the East Gate,
recently restored. The main features of this imposing defensive system can be studied
already from this sample, but we intend to proceed further with the recording.
The defences are built in depth for about 30m, beginning with an earthen wall and
a ditch, and including the main wall with towers and parallel inner wall, both in
mudbrick on stone foundations and both over 3m thick. The original height of the walls
The mission included Messrs. Janusz Bylirtski and Tomasz
Herbich (both archaeologists), Adam Dolot (architect) and the
present writer.
119