The Tell Abu Duwari Project, 1988–1990

Abstract

The second (1988–1989) and third (1990) seasons of excavation and survey at the 2nd-millennium B.C. urban site of Tell Abu Duwari (ancient Mashkan-shapir), Iraq, have yielded important new evidence on the organization of ancient Mesopotamian cities. A combination of aerial and surface survey has provided a broad overview of the differing functional areas, and of the role played by canals, streets, and walls to divide the city. Excavations consisted of both small soundings and one broad horizontal exposure. The soundings were designed to test the relationship between surface traces and the remains beneath the ground, and the larger excavation generated an artifactual, faunal, and floral inventory from an administrative district which will be compared with similar collections excavated in other parts of the city in future seasons.