Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

TELL ARBID

SYRIA

TELL ARBID
THE SIXTH CAMPAIGN OF EXCAVATIONS
PRELIMINARY REPORT

Piotr Bielinski

Planning the 2001 campaign, we had in mind the same chief goal as in 1999 and 2000,
that is, to uncover more of a structure of the 3rd millennium BC, provisionally called the
“Public Building”, which had been identified already during the first season at Pell Arbid
in 1996. “Secondary” objectives included a quarter ofNinevite 3 dwellings, cleared in the
northwestern corner of the main tell in 1999 and now explored further, and some domestic
structures dated to the Khabour-ware period, discovered on the eastern slope of the tell in
1998 and 1999, which we wanted to investigate more closely.
Altogether, the joint Polish-Syrian archaeological team, working from August 23 to
October 3, excavated a total of over 830 sq. m in seven separate areas.
1) The staff was numerous this year, on the Polish as well as Syrian sides. Mr. Ahmad Serriye, Mission Co-Director since
1996, was joined by Mr. Khaled Ahmo from the Regional Direction of Antiquities in Hassake. The present author, who is
Co-Director, was assisted by archaeologists: Dr. Dorota Lawecka, Dr. Anna Smogorzewska, Ms Zuzanna Sawicka,
Ms Agnieszka Pienkowska, Dr. Dariusz Szel^g, Mr. Lukasz Rutkowski (all Warsaw University, Institute of Archaeology);
Mr. Andrzej Reiche (National Museum in Warsaw); Dr. Rafal Kolinski (Poznan University, Institute of Prehistory).
Dr. Arkadiusz Soltysiak, anthropologist (Warsaw University, Institute of Archaeology), joined us for over two weeks. Also
working with us for three weeks was Mr. Lado Stanco from the Institute of Archaeology of Prague University. Participants
included students of archaeology from Warsaw University — Ms Agnieszka Szymczak, Ms Marta Momot, Ms Renata
Maskowicz and Ms Aneta Najgebauer; Poznan University — Mr. Michal Krueger, Mr. Lukasz Chubert; and Damascus
University — Ms Zeinab Ahmad, Mr. Shadi Khatoum and Mr. Malek Awad.
The Direction General of Antiquities and Museums has supported our research (not the least financially) this year as in
previous years. We are greatly indebted to its Director General, Dr. Abdel Razzaq Moaz, for his friendly interest and
encouragement, as well as to Dr. Michel al-Maqdissi, Director of Excavations, whose assistance has again proved invaluable.
Last but hardly least, we owe words of special thanks to Mr. Abd el Messih Bardo, Regional Director of Antiquities in
Hassake, for his constant support and logistical help.
Our sincere gratitude is due all the sponsors of the 2001 season at Tell Arbid. I would like to thank especially our old
friends from Elektromontaz-Export with its President, Mr. Jerzy Lewandowski, and from Panasonic Poland SA, for their
support.

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