Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

TELL ARBID

SYRIA

AREA “D” - NINEVITE 5 HOUSES

The last of the areas explored in this
campaign was “D” in the northwestern
corner of the main tell. Some fragments of
Ninevite 5 period domestic structures had
been exposed here in 1999-7) Two new
trenches were opened, extending the
previously excavated area (square 30/42:
9-5 by 9-5 and square 29/42: 9-5 by 4.5 m).
Both trenches were situated on ground
that sloped gently northward (Fig. 11).
The most recent archaeological feature to
be discovered was a large Hellenistic pit,
cylindrical in shape and exceeding 2.2 m
in diameter. It was cut through Khabour-
ware and Akkadian layers into strata of

Ninevite 5 times. The Khabour-ware
period stratum, albeit heavily eroded,
yielded some scattered remains of pise
foundations and narrow mud brick walls,
belonging most probably to at least two
separate structures. They were preserved in
the southwestern part of the area. There
were also fragments of three fairly large
tannours and the lower part of a badly
destroyed Khabour-period grave chamber
measuring c. 2.8 by 1.7 m.
The next layer, which should be dated
to the Akkadian period, is in even worse
condition due to erosion. Apparently, the
gap in occupation between the city of the


Fig. 12. Terracotta figurine of a ram found in the Akkadian layer in square 30/42
(Drawing M. Moniot and M. Wagner)

7) See id., PAM XI, op. cit., 284. The work begun by Austrian and American colleagues was now continued by the Syrian
side of our joint team supervised by A. Serriye.

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