Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

TELL ARBID

SYRIA

TELL ARBID
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE RESULTS
OF THE TWELFTH SEASON OF SYRIAN-POLISH
EXCAVATIONS

Piotr Bieliiiski

The twelfih field campaign of Syrian-Polish archaeological explorations on the site of Tell
Arbid lasted, as usual, seven weeks and can be counted among the most successful seasons
conducted so far.1 The investigation of5rd-rmllennium BC urban remains continued to be
the expedition’s main objective, in continuation of the work carried out in the previous two
seasons. This year, however, thefocus was on layers with dwellings dating to the Ninevite 5
period. The results ofthe 2005 and 2006 campaigns proved that depositsfrom this period
exceed 15 min thickness (which corresponds to more than half of the present height of the
tell) and cover almost the entire surface of the site (that is, about 14 ha). This makes the
Ninevite 5 period one of the most important phases in the history of occupation on Tell
Arbid.
Excavations were concentrated in two areas ivhere in the lastfew years substantial parts
of the Ninevite 5 toivn had been uncovered [Fig. 1 ]: Sector D in the northwestern part of
the main tell and Sector Win the southern part.
1 The season started on August 22 and field investigations lasted through October 1. The Polish team was more numerous
than usual, including Dr. Anna Smogorzewska, Dr. Dariusz Szelqg, both from the Institute of Archaeology, University of
Warsaw; Dr. Zuzanna Wygnahska, Dr. Lukasz Rutkowski, Marta Momot and Marzena Markowska, all from the Polish
Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw; Andrzej Reiche from the National Museum in Warsaw;
Maciej Makowski from the Research Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, Polish Academy of Sciences and Agnieszka
Szymczak (freelance). Student trainees included nine volunteers from the University of Warsaw: Marta Mierzejewska,
Klaudia Szajkowska, Magdalena Lipihska, Katarzyna Hryniewicka, Magdalena Ostrowska, Dagmara Siatkowska, Joanna
Reiche, Lukasz Wojnarowicz and Karol Zajdowski, as well as Mattia Raccidi from the University of Florence. Dr. Joanna
Pi^tkowska-Malecka from the Department of Paleozoology, Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, joined the
team for two weeks to analyze animal bones from the last five seasons of investigations on Tell Arbid. The Syrian side of
the Tell Arbid expedition was represented this year by two archaeology students from Damascus University, Nancy Badra
and Raghad Bach, who helped out with drawing trench plans and pottery. The expedition was co-directed by Dr. Ahmed
Serriyeh and the present author.
The joint Syrian-Polish expedition benefited as usual from the help and substantial financial contribution of the
Direction General of Antiquities and Museums. Special thanks go to Dr. Bassam Jammous, Director General, as well as to
Dr. Michel al-Maqdissi, Director of the Excavations Department, for their generous interest and encouragement. Last but
not least, there is Abed Abdel Mesih Bagdo, Regional Director of Antiquities in Hassake, whose regular visits, advice and
constant support in solving numerous problems proved invaluable.

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Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007