DOI Heft:
Syria
DOI Artikel:Bieliński, Piotr: Tell Arbid: preliminary report, 1998
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41273#0215
TELL ARBID
SYRIA
assumedly displaced by erosion from high-
er up on the slope, where 3rd mill, layers
were in evidence right on the tell surface.
These finds include some interesting
pieces, like the two clay bullae with poor-
ly preserved impressions of cylinder seals
and one complete cylinder seal bearing
ornamental decoration.
Despite extended efforts, we were
unable to reach even the top of Early
Dynastic deposits in three trenches situat-
ed to the east of the original "S" trench. In
this respect, we were much more lucky in
the two easternmost trenches explored this
year, i.e., 36/65 and 36/66, where
a sequence of nine consecutive 3rd mill.
BC strata was uncovered. Only the upper
three layers were exposed in trench 36/65,
while the seven lower ones were investigat-
ed in 36/66. Both trenches are located at
the eastern edge of the terrace on which the
Khabour-period houses of 36/61-62 had
been built, in a place where the slope
steepens abruptly, giving easier access to
the lower strata, and where erosion has for-
tuitously swept away 2nd mill. BC layers.
The entire surface here had been disturbed
considerably by different kinds of pits,
mostly of Khabour-ware period date. Some
of them were cut very deep into the earlier
layers. Such pits and erosion are responsi-
ble for significant destruction of the two
upper 3rd mill. BC strata in this area. The
architectural remains of the Early Dynastic
period city on Arbid were limited to some
fragments of mudbrick and pise walls
forming no coherent plan. Despite the dev-
astation, it was possible to collect from
subsequent floors a relatively rich assem-
blage of Late ED III pottery with some
Early Akkadian pieces on the topmost
floor. Only in stratum III was the bigger
part of a more substantial building uncov-
ered. It consisted of a large courtyard with
adjoining room entered through a doorway
one meter wide (Fig. 4).
Plan of Stratum III architectural remains from trench 36/65
(Drawing R. Kolinski, L. Rutkowski)
213
SYRIA
assumedly displaced by erosion from high-
er up on the slope, where 3rd mill, layers
were in evidence right on the tell surface.
These finds include some interesting
pieces, like the two clay bullae with poor-
ly preserved impressions of cylinder seals
and one complete cylinder seal bearing
ornamental decoration.
Despite extended efforts, we were
unable to reach even the top of Early
Dynastic deposits in three trenches situat-
ed to the east of the original "S" trench. In
this respect, we were much more lucky in
the two easternmost trenches explored this
year, i.e., 36/65 and 36/66, where
a sequence of nine consecutive 3rd mill.
BC strata was uncovered. Only the upper
three layers were exposed in trench 36/65,
while the seven lower ones were investigat-
ed in 36/66. Both trenches are located at
the eastern edge of the terrace on which the
Khabour-period houses of 36/61-62 had
been built, in a place where the slope
steepens abruptly, giving easier access to
the lower strata, and where erosion has for-
tuitously swept away 2nd mill. BC layers.
The entire surface here had been disturbed
considerably by different kinds of pits,
mostly of Khabour-ware period date. Some
of them were cut very deep into the earlier
layers. Such pits and erosion are responsi-
ble for significant destruction of the two
upper 3rd mill. BC strata in this area. The
architectural remains of the Early Dynastic
period city on Arbid were limited to some
fragments of mudbrick and pise walls
forming no coherent plan. Despite the dev-
astation, it was possible to collect from
subsequent floors a relatively rich assem-
blage of Late ED III pottery with some
Early Akkadian pieces on the topmost
floor. Only in stratum III was the bigger
part of a more substantial building uncov-
ered. It consisted of a large courtyard with
adjoining room entered through a doorway
one meter wide (Fig. 4).
Plan of Stratum III architectural remains from trench 36/65
(Drawing R. Kolinski, L. Rutkowski)
213