DOI article:
Schmidt-Colinet, Andreas; Assa'd, Khaled; Asʿad, Walīd: Thirty years of Syro-German/Austrian archaeological research at Palmyra
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26423#0304
Andreas Schmtdt-Colinet, Khaled al-As'ad, Waleed al-As'ad
exceptionally rich architectural decoration, which is of the highest ąuality, was worked by local
workshops and enables us to reconstruct pattern books [Fig. 4], which can be traced back partly
to native textile patterns [Fig. 5].
The sarcophagi and grave reliefs, which again are rooted in local tradition, contribute infor-
mation on the dress and adornments of the Palmyrene upper class of the 3rd century AD. The
smali finds, such as pottery, lamps etc. again prove relations with workshops outside Palmyra.
The osteo-archaeological evaluation of skeleton finds enables us for the first time to make a cau-
tious demographic projection of the population structure of ancient Palmyra.
Ali in all, the architecture of the building and its decoration, as well as the archaeological finds
from the grave complex reveal a very complex historical reality of interrelations and interdepen-
dences, which are hardly referred to in the ancient written sources. Intensified contact with the
Roman world at the same time stimulated and encouraged indigene local traditions and capabil-
ities. Therefore, the phenomenon that is usually called "Romanization" can well be understood
as a process of "reorientalization".
Other tombs of this type were studied thoroughly without excavations. The facades of many
of these tombs could be reconstructed in drawing [Fig. 6], Furthermore the so-called "Aviation-
tomb" (No. 186) in the southeast necropolis was cleaned, restored and studied. After restoration,
the structure was opened to the public.
Finally, within the frame of research on Palmyrene funerary sculpture, two sarcophagi found by
the Syrian mission were studied carefully. One of the two, nowadays standing in front of the Museum,
was completed with a horse standing on the left side of the lid. This horse was rediscovered in the
depot of the Museum and had been drawn already by Wiegand at the beginning of the 20th century.
Quarries
Between 1991 and 1994 the mission worked in the limestone ąuarries of Palmyra. These ąuarries,
which supplied the hard limestone for most of the sculptures and buildings of ancient Palmyra, are
situated about 15 km northeast of the city. They are spread over several sąuare kilometers and were
partly rediscovered in the past few years. The mission embarked on the first ever detailed cartographic
mapping of these ąuarries [Figs 7-8], studying also different techniąues of extraction, production and
transport, as well as the infrastructure of the people working in or living near the ąuarries.
Detailed information on the daily life and social environment of the workers came from one
of the ąuarries. Caves were artificially enlarged to be used as łiving ąuarters. A sophisticated sys-
tem of water channels and cisterns carried in the essential supply of water. "Dragon houses"
[F/g. 9], constructed with broken or rejected blocks, were used as shelters for guardians and for
storing tools. Graffiti on the walls of these houses bring the name and professions of masons and
ąuarry workers. Loading ramps scattered all over the ąuarries allow a reconstruction of the means
of transport, also known from sculptured representations, that is, carts with a loading height of
about 1 m, pulled by bulls.
Many unfinished blocks left in the ąuarries, as well as tool marks on the ąuarry walls [ ig. 10]
provide data on the different methods used for extraction and dressing of the stone. They bear out
a change of techniąues and tools, which occurred during the first half of the 2nd century AD. The
new techniąue madę the extraction of larger blocks possible in a shorter time and with less effort.
One can thus prove an interdependence and correlation between the building boom of the first half
of the 2nd century AD and the development of new methods of extraction and production [Fig. 11].
Furthermore, the different traces of the tools give hints for a dating of otherwise undated build-
ings in the town, clarifying thus the chronology of the urban development of ancient Palmyra.
Textiles
The morę than 2000 textile fragments found in the tombs of Palmyra constitute one of the largest
groups of antiąue textiles with proven origin. The mission worked on them from 1991 to 1996.
302
Studia Palmyreńskie XII
exceptionally rich architectural decoration, which is of the highest ąuality, was worked by local
workshops and enables us to reconstruct pattern books [Fig. 4], which can be traced back partly
to native textile patterns [Fig. 5].
The sarcophagi and grave reliefs, which again are rooted in local tradition, contribute infor-
mation on the dress and adornments of the Palmyrene upper class of the 3rd century AD. The
smali finds, such as pottery, lamps etc. again prove relations with workshops outside Palmyra.
The osteo-archaeological evaluation of skeleton finds enables us for the first time to make a cau-
tious demographic projection of the population structure of ancient Palmyra.
Ali in all, the architecture of the building and its decoration, as well as the archaeological finds
from the grave complex reveal a very complex historical reality of interrelations and interdepen-
dences, which are hardly referred to in the ancient written sources. Intensified contact with the
Roman world at the same time stimulated and encouraged indigene local traditions and capabil-
ities. Therefore, the phenomenon that is usually called "Romanization" can well be understood
as a process of "reorientalization".
Other tombs of this type were studied thoroughly without excavations. The facades of many
of these tombs could be reconstructed in drawing [Fig. 6], Furthermore the so-called "Aviation-
tomb" (No. 186) in the southeast necropolis was cleaned, restored and studied. After restoration,
the structure was opened to the public.
Finally, within the frame of research on Palmyrene funerary sculpture, two sarcophagi found by
the Syrian mission were studied carefully. One of the two, nowadays standing in front of the Museum,
was completed with a horse standing on the left side of the lid. This horse was rediscovered in the
depot of the Museum and had been drawn already by Wiegand at the beginning of the 20th century.
Quarries
Between 1991 and 1994 the mission worked in the limestone ąuarries of Palmyra. These ąuarries,
which supplied the hard limestone for most of the sculptures and buildings of ancient Palmyra, are
situated about 15 km northeast of the city. They are spread over several sąuare kilometers and were
partly rediscovered in the past few years. The mission embarked on the first ever detailed cartographic
mapping of these ąuarries [Figs 7-8], studying also different techniąues of extraction, production and
transport, as well as the infrastructure of the people working in or living near the ąuarries.
Detailed information on the daily life and social environment of the workers came from one
of the ąuarries. Caves were artificially enlarged to be used as łiving ąuarters. A sophisticated sys-
tem of water channels and cisterns carried in the essential supply of water. "Dragon houses"
[F/g. 9], constructed with broken or rejected blocks, were used as shelters for guardians and for
storing tools. Graffiti on the walls of these houses bring the name and professions of masons and
ąuarry workers. Loading ramps scattered all over the ąuarries allow a reconstruction of the means
of transport, also known from sculptured representations, that is, carts with a loading height of
about 1 m, pulled by bulls.
Many unfinished blocks left in the ąuarries, as well as tool marks on the ąuarry walls [ ig. 10]
provide data on the different methods used for extraction and dressing of the stone. They bear out
a change of techniąues and tools, which occurred during the first half of the 2nd century AD. The
new techniąue madę the extraction of larger blocks possible in a shorter time and with less effort.
One can thus prove an interdependence and correlation between the building boom of the first half
of the 2nd century AD and the development of new methods of extraction and production [Fig. 11].
Furthermore, the different traces of the tools give hints for a dating of otherwise undated build-
ings in the town, clarifying thus the chronology of the urban development of ancient Palmyra.
Textiles
The morę than 2000 textile fragments found in the tombs of Palmyra constitute one of the largest
groups of antiąue textiles with proven origin. The mission worked on them from 1991 to 1996.
302
Studia Palmyreńskie XII