Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (12.2000(2001))

TELL ARBID

SYRIA

TELL ARBID
INTERIM REPORT OF THE FIFTH SEASON
Piotr Bielinski

The fifth season of joint Polish-Syrian explorations of Tell Arbidwas focused on
a substantial, externally buttressed structure of the 3rd millennium BC, discovered already
in 1996 near the top of the so-called citadel, at the western end of the "5’" trench. The chief
goal of the campaign was to uncover as much as possible of this putative public building in
areas “SS” (comprising originally parts of squares 3613 4, 36/33, 36/36, 37/33, 37/36)
and “SA” (squares 37134 and 38/34). For practical purposes, the southern part of area
“SS” (i.e., squares 37/33 and 37/34) was separated out as a new sector labeled SL. All
three sectors cover the eastern part of the citadel top and the adjacent eastern slope (Fig. 1)
1) The campaign started on August 28 and lasted until October 2, 2000. The Polish team included archaeologists: Mrs.
Dorota Bielihska, Dr. Agata Kubala, Ms. Katarzyna Meyza, Ms. Aleksandra Pgska, Mr. Andrzej Reiche, Mr. tukasz
Rutkowski, Ms. Zuzanna Sawicka, Dr. Franciszek M. Stgpniowski, and the present author. The team was assisted by
archaeology students: Ms. Agnieszka Pienkowska, Mr. Jerzy Wierzbicki. As Mr. Ahmed Serriye, who was the mission co-
director for the past four years, is now completing his military service, the Syrian side in the project was represented by Mr.
Mahmud Abdalla from the DGAM Department in Aleppo.
The Direction General of Antiquities and Museums of the Syrian Arab Republic and its Director of Excavations, Dr. Michel
Al-Maqdissi, to whom we wish to express here our deep gratitude, have remained continuously in support of our research,
including a substantial financial contribution to cover the expenses of the 2000 season. We are also much in debt to Mr.
Abdel Massih Bardo, Regional Director of Antiquities in Hassake, for his continuous interest and friendly advice.

315