In partnership with the Ghadames Society for Heritage and Manuscripts, and with the support of the Whiting Foundation and the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, 17吃瓜continues to facilitate the digitization of an important collection of manuscripts within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ghadames, Libya.
For more than fifteen centuries, camel caravans stopped to rest and resupply in the oasis of Ghadames, near the point where Libya now intersects the borders of Tunisia and Algeria. This ancient crossroads connected an east-west route running from Egypt to Mauritania, and a north-south route linking the Mediterranean coast to Kano and the polities of the Niger River valley on the far side of the Sahara desert.
Along with goods piled high on camel saddles, the caravan trade facilitated the flow of religion and scientific concepts, shaping the culture of the entire region. This flow, as well as the network of people which sustained it over vast distances, depended on a sophisticated system of documentation and accounting in several languages. Ghadames was one of the brightest nodes along this network and became an important repository of manuscripts documenting these relationships which managed to thrive across inhospitable stretches of sand. Economic and political dealings, taxes and protection fees, scientific manuscripts, the successes and disappointments of individual seasons, and efforts to wage war and build peace over years–all found their way into the archives maintained by the merchant and juridical families of Ghadames.
While the caravans have stopped, camels still thrive in Ghadames.
Building on the efforts of his father, Mr. Qasim Yushaa has been working tirelessly to catalog and digitize these collections.听 In 2013, he founded the Ghadames Society for Heritage and Manuscripts, the first Libyan NGO working in this field. The all-volunteer membership of the Society gathers to collect, document and preserve the city’s manuscripts. “We started with just a few people and an idea,” Mr. Yushaa recalled, “then, bit by bit, we gathered donated equipment and assembled a team of volunteers with diverse experience to lend to the project.”
Nearly two years ago, Mr. Yushaa contacted 17吃瓜seeking assistance. With the financial support of the Whiting Foundation and the expertise of the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML), 17吃瓜embarked on this new partnership with a digitization training workshop in Tunis in February. Mr. Walid Mourad, field director and master trainer at HMML, led the workshop for five members of the Ghadames group, who learned to use high quality equipment and rigorous standards to support their ongoing digitization work. According to Mr. Yushaa, “Before the workshop, we only had a scanner in our office, and work proceeded very slowly as we scanned page after page. The tethered camera set up that Walid introduced us to has been a dramatic improvement, and we are grateful that 17吃瓜sent us back to Ghadames with all of the equipment we used during training.”
Qasim Yushaa and other members of the team prepare for digitization.
The team from Ghadames trains on the digitization system developed by HMML.
The team from Ghadames returned with the equipment and installed the digitization studio in their office. While progress has been delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have digitized a number of manuscripts and rare books, which they share via their Facebook page and website. While the arid environment of Ghadames has helped large collections of manuscripts survive through the centuries, many of these documents are now in fragile condition and require conservation. The association lacks the expertise to treat the manuscripts but is working to gradually organize them according to topic and begin the long term project of digitization.
Mr. Yushaa encourages volunteers and others in the community to spend time in the office by offering free high-speed internet and coffee and tea. He has offered computer literacy courses for older residents of the city as a way to draw them in, providing them basic skills which they might use to contribute to the Society as well as encouraging their participation in the Society’s ongoing work to record oral histories of the city.
Many manuscripts in the collection require conservation treatment and proper storage.
A page from the Quran handwritten in Ghadames by Sheikh Mukhtar Madawr Ghadamisi
Immediately prior to the pandemic, 17吃瓜hosted a multi-day volunteer event in Ghadames. We visited the headquarters of the Society, guided by Mr. Yushaa, and the work impressed all who attended. Beyond manuscripts, the Society has also been digitizing rare tape recordings of music festivals in Ghadames and producing cultural videos for its YouTube channel. Mr. Yushaa emphasized that beyond digitization, the Society has a great need for the relevant conservation expertise and storage supplies to enable them to properly preserve their collections. “We hope that as we grow as an organization, we will eventually be able to hire a staff with the right expertise. For now, we rely on volunteers fueled by fast internet and free coffee,” he explained.
In the meantime, the Society continues to share the results of their digitization with HMML, one of the great global repositories of digitized manuscripts. Despite the current constraints on travel, Walid Mourad from HMML remains in regular contact with the team in Ghadames, providing encouragement and assistance as needed. According to Father Columba Stewart, Executive Director of HMML, “Thanks to the Whiting-17吃瓜project in Ghadames, we’re able to provide access to an historic but inaccessible collection of manuscripts with intellectual ties to HMML’s work in Mali and in the Middle East. The courage of the local team as their country is torn apart in war inspires us at HMML in our own commitment to preserving heritage wherever and however it is endangered.”
Mr. Yushaa explains the digitization process during the 17吃瓜volunteer workshop.
Elegant mud brick walls line the streets of the old city of Ghadames.
U. S. DEPT. COOPERATION AGREEMENT NUMBER: S-IZ-100-17-CA021
BY By Kyra Kaercher, Susan Penacho, Katherine Burge, Jamie O’Connell, and Marina Gabriel[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]* This report is based on research conducted by the 鈥淪afeguarding the Heritage of the Near East Initiative,鈥� funded by the US Department of State. Monthly reports reflect reporting from a variety of sources and may contain unverified material. As such, they should be treated as preliminary and subject to change.[/vc_column_text][mk_divider thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_wp_text]Ebla (Tell Mardikh) is located 55 km southwest of Aleppo in Idlib Governorate. Occupied from the Early Bronze Age (ca. 3500 BCE) until the 7th century CE, the site consists of a central high mound/acropolis surrounded by a lower mound comprising the Bronze Age lower town, which is in turn encircled by the remains of a large Middle Bronze Age earth, a stone fortification wall, and a rampart with four gates. The site was excavated by the Italian Archaeological Expedition of the University La Sapienza under the direction of Paolo Matthiae from 1964 until the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 [1]. 听Since 2011, the site has been subjected to illicit digging and looting. The site is well-known locally and internationally due to its long history of excavation and publication of finds. Artifacts recovered from the palaces located on the site include furniture and composite statues inlaid with precious stones, while the royal tombs have yielded jewelry and other precious grave goods. A large corpus of cuneiform tablets found within the Early Bronze Age Royal Palace (Palace G) constitutes one of the oldest archives and libraries ever found. Ebla is moreover historically significant as the capital of an early Syrian centralized state, which is considered by some as constituting one of the earliest empires [2].
Ebla became an urbanized center in ca. 3000-2400 BCE, but truly began to flourish as a regional power in ca. 2400-2300 BCE [3]. 听During this period, the Early Bronze Age Royal Palace (Palace G) was built over the western slope of the acropolis. Excavations in the palace revealed mudbrick walls preserved to a height of seven meters and a number of precious raw materials and finely crafted finished pieces, some of which were very similar to the elite objet d鈥檃rt found in the Royal Cemetery at Ur. Important cuneiform archives were also found in situ on collapsed shelves in a number of rooms in the palace, totaling more than 18,000 tablets dated to around 2350 BCE and written in Sumerian and Eblaite [4]. 听At this time, Ebla appears to have established political and military dominance over neighboring Syrian city-states, all of whom are mentioned in the archives, gaining control of an area roughly half the size of modern Syria [5].
The acropolis of Ebla pre-war showing the Royal Palace (Palace G) and Archives in white (Photo courtesy of Kyra Kaercher; June 2010)
The Middle Bronze Age Royal Palace (Palace E) was built on the newly fortified acropolis, and a temple to Ishtar was constructed over the earlier Temple D [6]. 听Also built to the northeast of the acropolis was The Temple of Shamash (Temple N), and to the northwest, a second Ishtar Temple (Temple P2) [7]. 听The Vizier Palace was built to the south of the acropolis, while the Crown Prince鈥檚 Palace (Palace Q) was constructed to the west; the Temple of Resheph (Temple B1) and the Dead Kings鈥� Sanctuary (B2) were erected in between [8].
Ishtar鈥檚 sacred area and temple (Photo courtesy of Kyra Kaercher; June 2009)
The excavated Middle Bronze Age Palace (Photo courtesy of Kyra Kaercher; June 2010)
Dead Kings sanctuary and Resheph Temple pre-War (Photo courtesy of Kyra Kaercher; June 2010)
The royal necropolis for this period was discovered beneath Palace Q; it contains many hypogea, formed from natural caves in the bedrock of the palace鈥檚 foundation and dating to the 19th and 18th centuries BCE. Three have been excavated and were found to contain precious jewelry and funerary objects, some of which were imported from Egypt [9]. 听This new kingdom was founded by an Amorite dynasty and served as vassal to the kingdom of Yamhad until the city鈥檚 final destruction ca. 1600 BCE by the Hittite king Mursili I [10]. 听Ebla never recovered from the Hittite destruction, though small occupations continued to appear at the site (Mardikh IV, V, VII), until its final abandonment in the 7th-century CE [11].
The Acropolis at Ebla prior to the conflict (17吃瓜CHI/DigitalGlobe NextView License; December 16, 2008)
From the start of the Syrian conflict, opposition groups began forming in Idlib Governorate. From late January to early February 2012, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) began to capture territory in Idlib Governorate. 听In September 2014, the US-led coalition began conducting airstrikes against Al Nusra Front targets (known then as the Khorasan Group and later as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) in Idlib Governorate. In November 2014, Al Nusra Front began targeting other opposition groups in Idlib, accusing some of collaborating with western forces. Al Nusra Front captured the city of Idlib in April 2015. By June 2015, the organization had reportedly control of over 90% of Idlib Governorate, along with other Islamist opposition groups, including the Fattah Army Coalition. ISIS also held areas of Idlib from August 2011 until January 2014, before being forced out by opposition forces. At present, opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Al Nusra Front) continue to maintain control over the majority of the region. As a result, between late-September 2015 and mid-2017, Russian and SARG forces carried out intensive aerial bombardment over Idlib Governorate. In 2017, much of Idlib Governorate was in a so-called 鈥渄e-escalation zones,鈥� brokered by Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and aerial bombardment over the area largely ceased. However, 2018 brought renewed aerial bombardment over the area by both Russian and Syrian forces as the Syrian regime renewed it offensive against opposition forces. Aerial bombardment 听over much of Idlib Governorate on a near daily basis.
Damage to Ebla
Annotated satellite image of damage to Ebla, separated by date first visible. Not all the looting pits are noted as they were not clear in available images (17吃瓜CHI/DigitalGlobe NextView License; June 30, 2016)
17吃瓜CHI analysis of ongoing damage to Ebla through April 13, 2018 (17吃瓜CHI/DigitalGlobe NextView License; April 13, 2018)
Illegal Excavation/Vandalism
In April 2012, the Association for the Protection of Syrian Archaeology (APSA) that looting was occuring at the site of Ebla. DigitalGlobe satellite images from May 31, 2012 show looting pits in previously excavated areas on the Acropolis. The DGAM that illegal excavations had occurred at the Early Bronze Age Royal Palace and Archives, and the Middle Bronze Age Royal Palace on the Acropolis, as well as areas south and southeast of the Acropolis.
In November 2013, the DGAM reported that they met with officials and locals at Ebla to discuss ways to combat the looting. However, looting at the site with the use of heavy machinery. DigitalGlobe satellite imagery from August 18, 2013 shows increased looting on the Acropolis and the Damascus Gate. On November 12, 2013 DGAM representatives again visited the site and published photographs confirming reports of looting on the Acropolis and on the northwest slope below the Acropolis area.
The Early Bronze Age Royal Palace at Ebla pre-conflict (Photo courtesy of Kyra Kaercher; June 2010)
Vandalism and looting at Ebla (DGAM; Published December 11, 2013)
The Early Bronze Age Royal Palace showing damage due to the elements, vandalism, and illegal excavation (DGAM; June 15, 2014)
Looting pit near the eastern fortification wall on the Acropolis (DGAM; November 12, 2013)
In February 2014, the DGAM that the looting had stopped and Ebla was now occupied by an unnamed 鈥渁rmed group.鈥� The date of the incident would suggest that Syrian opposition forces, possibly including elements of then-called Al Nusra Front, controlled the site at this time. DGAM officials the site in June 2014 and published photographs showing numerous looting pits, including some that were 鈥渄own to the foundations of the walls,鈥� as well as evidence of the use of heavy machinery (17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 14-0101 in ). UNITAR published a report that identified looting between 2008 and 2014, resulting in severe damage and destruction at the site, including in Area CC, Area F, the Great Temple of Ishtar, the Dead Kings鈥� Sanctuary, the Qatna Gate, the Temple of Resheph, the South-Eastern Fort, and the site museum, as well as moderate or possible damage elsewhere on the site.
Evidence of looting and heavy machinery on the Acropolis (DGAM; June 14, 2014)
On May 31, 2015 an 17吃瓜CHI in-country source visited Ebla and reported seeing a number of illegal, unregulated excavations. They also saw unspecified damage at several areas of the site, especially in the Early Bronze Age Royal Library, the Temple of Shamash, the Temple of Ishtar, and the Early Bronze Age Royal Palace. New looting pits and expansion of previously excavated areas were visible, primarily around the Northwestern Fort. Many of the previously excavated areas looked to have degraded, with vegetation and soil infilling over time. Based on DigitalGlobe satellite imagery between August 16, 2015 and June 30, 2016 additional looting occured at Ebla and focused mainly on the northeastern side of the Acropolis. Area CC is no longer visible and looting pits cover the area where it once was. Structure PS has been destroyed using heavy machinery. New bulldozer tracks are visible up the acropolis on the western side of the Middle Bronze Age Palace. Excavations have also taken place on the southeastern edge of the Palace of the Crown Prince.
Annotated satellite image of damage to the Acropolis of Ebla, separated by date first visible. Not all the looting pits are noted as they were not clear in available images (17吃瓜CHI/DigitalGlobe NextView License; June 30, 2016)
Since June 30, 2016 illegal excavations have increased, specifically on the southwestern side of the acropolis near the Resheph Temple and Early Bronze Age Royal Palace. Some of these structures鈥� walls were to a depth of seven feet, but all have been re-plastered and in some cases reconstructed. Between February 21, 2017 and April 13, 2018 the remains of the Resheph Temple and the Early Bronze Age Royal Palace disappeared. In addition to these illegal excavations, there was an expansion of the bulldozing at the base of the acropolis mound on the northwestern corner close to the Middle Bronze Age Royal Palace. The northwestern corner of the Palace of the Crown Prince was also disturbed by illegal excavations. Bulldozing can be seen around the northern corner of the mound near the Aleppo Gate.
Severe damage to Ebla due to ongoing illegal excavations (outlined in blue) (DigitalGlobe NextView License; April 13, 2018)
Military Construction
Between June 27, 2012 and August 4, 2012 a military outpost was erected on the western side of the site. By September 8, 2012 an earthen berm was constructed around these structures. An August 4, 2014 DigitalGlobe satellite image shows an increased number of earthen berms set up around the site. By August 16, 2015 Ebla was occupied by an opposition force and new constructions (including trenching into the mound to fortify positions) were built at the northwest corner and the southern edge of the site. By 2016, the military force occupying the site dug trenches into the mound to create fortified positions for armored vehicles, some of which can be seen in place on satellite imagery. Some of these vehicles are parked on archaeological material, including the Northern Palace and Ishtar鈥檚 Sacred Area. A possible military training ground also appears on the western side of the site, as well as new looting pits, primarily on the Acropolis and the southern edge of the mound. Between February 21, 2017 and April 13, 2018 new earthworks were constructed on the southeastern area of the mound and in the northeastern corner near the Euphrates Gate.
Earthen berms constructed at Ebla (DigitalGlobe NextView License; August 4, 2014)
Military vehicles (red outlines) and a military training course and earthen berms (red arrows) on the mound of Ebla in addition to the ongoing illegal excavations (outlined in blue) (DigitalGlobe NextView License; February 21, 2017)
Airstrikes
On October 1, 2015, a Russian Air Force bombing campaign reportedly the sites of Shinshara, Serjilla, and Ebla. On November 18, 2015 an 17吃瓜CHI source visited Ebla to confirm damage from this incident and another airstrike that occurred the week of November 9, 2015 (17吃瓜CHI Incident Report 15-0137 in 听and Incident Report 15-0150 in ). The 17吃瓜CHI in-country source confirmed that Ebla was in fact hit by these strikes.
The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative (TDA-HPI) produced a report which indicates that Russian airstrikes struck the eastern side of the acropolis, causing damage and leaving a hole in the acropolis slope. Images in the TDA-HPI report detail damage to the acropolis, as well as damage to the eastern slope. On February 25, 2016 the Russian Air Force reportedly carried out five air strikes targeting the eastern side of Ebla. Another five air strikes were out the next day, causing severe damage to the western and southern sides of the archeological site. DigitalGlobe satellite imagery confirms multiple impact craters on the mound, often located close to a military trench or vehicle. In the image from June 30, 2016 impact craters surround a vehicle trench where the vehicle is still visible. The nearby site museum was also struck during this time.
Airstrike crater at Ebla (TDA-HPI; November 13, 2015)
Remains of a rocket found near crater (TDA-HPI; November 13, 2015)
An airstrike crater at Ebla (TDA-HPI; March 2, 2016)
An airstrike crater at Ebla (TDA-HPI; March 2, 2016)
Remains of a weapon, possibly a mortar (TDA-HPI; March 2, 2016)
Conclusion
Ebla has been severely damaged during the conflict. Illegal excavations have damaged the integrity of exposed architecture on the site, causing it to collapse, and these illegal excavations are ongoing. The construction of military outposts and training grounds by Syrian opposition forces have led to Ebla being targeted by airstrikes and bombing campaigns for the past three years. As of the release of this report, the site is still controlled by opposition groups. Threats continue at the site including illegal excavation, theft, vandalism, illegal construction of military outposts, and airstrikes/bombing campaigns in the region.
[1]听Matthiae, Paolo (2013). “A Long Journey. Fifty Years of Research on the Bronze Age at Tell Mardikh/Ebla”. In Matthiae, Paolo; Marchetti, Nicol貌. Ebla and its Landscape: Early State Formation in the Ancient Near East. Left Coast Press, p. 37.
[2]听Liverani, Mario (2009). “Imperialism”. In Pollock, Susan; Bernbeck, Reinhard. Archaeologies of the Middle East: Critical Perspectives. John Wiley & Sons, p. 228.
[3]听Matthiae (2013), p. 37.
[4]听Akkermans, P. M., & Schwartz, G. M. (2003). The archaeology of Syria: from complex hunter-gatherers to early urban societies (c. 16,000-300 BC). Cambridge University Press, pp. 235, 240.
[5]听Idem, p. 239.
[6]听Idem, pp. 300-301.
[7]听Idem, p. 301.
[8]听Idem, p. 301.
[9]听Akkermans & Schwartz (2003), pp. 299-300.
[10]听Matthiae (2013), p. 106.
[11]听Pettinato, Giovanni (1991). Ebla, a new look at history. Johns Hopkins University Press, p. 16.
[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][vc_column_text]鈥� Alleged Turkish army or Turkish-backed FSA fighters destroyed the grave of the Kurdish writer Nuri Dersimi and damaged Henan Mosque in Mesh鈥檃le, Aleppo Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0116
鈥� Reported SARG forces recaptured the Jerusalem Mosque from opposition forces in Yarmouk neighborhood, Damascus, Damascus Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0104
鈥� Satellite imagery revealed ongoing illegal excavations at Apamea, in Qalaat al-Mudiq, Hama Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0100
鈥� Video footage shows graffiti at the Roman Theater in Palmyra, Homs Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0117
鈥� Satellite imagery and photographs show new damage to Tell Danit in Idlib Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0102
鈥� Satellite imagery revealed damage to Ibrahim Khalil Mosque in Hajar al-Aswad, Rif Dimashq Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0112
鈥� An unnamed group rebuilt the al-Juwayjati Mosque in Mosul, Ninawa Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report IHI 18-0011
[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][vc_column_text]鈥� The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria published a new report about Mari in Deir ez-Zor Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 17-0224 UPDATE
鈥� Satellite imagery reveals ongoing damage due to illegal excavations and military occupation at Ebla, Idlib Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0083
鈥� Heavy shelling damaged Palestinian Mosque in Damascus, Damascus Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0087
鈥� Natural impacts and lack of maintenance caused the collapse of historic buildings in Ghadames, Tripolitania. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report LHI 18-0002 UPDATE
鈥� Ongoing fighting in Sabha damaged the Sabha Castle in Sabha, Fezzan. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report LHI 18-0016 UPDATE
鈥� Thieves allegedly stole bells from the Anglican Church of Christ the King in Tripoli, Tripolitania. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report LHI 18-0019[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″ margin_top=”10″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1566332401349{padding-right: 10px !important;}”][mk_image src=”http://www.asor.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ASOR_CHI_Mar18_200x500.png” image_width=”200″ image_height=”500″ crop=”false” hover=”false”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][vc_column_text]鈥� Suspected Free Syrian Army fighters reportedly vandalized a Yezidi shrine dedicated to Kara Jorna in Aleppo Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0071
鈥� Turkish and Turkish-backed forces allegedly damaged the site of Barad in Aleppo Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0076
鈥� Volunteers renovated al-Kabir Mosque in Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0078
鈥� New photographs show damage to the Maltai Rock Reliefs (Halamata Cave) near Kifriki Village, Dohuk Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report IHI 18-0005
鈥� ISIS militants reportedly destroyed a Sufi Shrine in Tell Hama, Kirkuk Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report IHI 18-0010
鈥� Reported Turkish military construction encroached on the archaeological site of Tekla in Jebel Semaan, Aleppo Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 17-0212 UPDATE
鈥� Heavy machinery destroyed the Khan Hamu al-Qadu in Mosul, Ninawa Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report IHI 18-0003
鈥� New photographs show illegal excavation at Tell Huwaish near Jirnaf, Salah ad Din Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report IHI 18-0004
鈥� An IED damaged Saad bin Obadah Mosque in Benghazi, Cyrenaica. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report LHI 18-0007
鈥� Reported armed extremists destroyed the Mosque of Sheikh Ahmed Barakat al-Ansari in Ajaylat, Tripolitania. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report LHI 18-0006[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″ margin_top=”10″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1566332422149{padding-right: 10px !important;}”][mk_image src=”http://www.asor.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CHI_2018_JAN_200x500.jpg” image_width=”200″ image_height=”500″ crop=”false” hover=”false”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][vc_column_text]鈥� A reported Russian airstrike damaged al-Ma’arra Museum in Ma鈥檃rat al-Numan, Idlib Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0002
鈥� A Byzantine tomb in al-Hasakah Governorate was restored in al-Farahia, al-Hasakah Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0007
鈥� Alleged Turkish shelling damaged Tell Ain Dara Temple in Ain Dara, Aleppo Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report SHI 18-0028
鈥� Citizens decried the condition of Birs Nimrud (ancient Borsippa) in Babil Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report IHI 18-0002
鈥� A Christian cemetery in the Wadi 鈥業kab area was damaged in Mosul, Ninawa Governorate. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report IHI 18-0001
鈥� Heavy rains contributed to the collapse of a number of mud-brick buildings at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ghadames, Tripolitania. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report LHI 18-0002
鈥� The grave of Sheikh Mahdi al-Sanusi near Kufra, Cyrenaica was ransacked. 17吃瓜CHI Incident Report LHI 18-0004[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″ margin_top=”10″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text responsive_align=”left”]
17吃瓜BOOK AWARD SPOTLIGHT: SCRIBES AND SCROLLS AT QUMRAN
[/vc_column_text][mk_divider][vc_wp_text]At the 2019 17吃瓜Annual Meeting in San Diego, Sidnie White Crawford was awarded the Frank Moore Cross Award for her book, (Eerdmans). This award is presented to the author/editor of the most substantial volume(s) related to the history and/or religion of the ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean. Primary consideration will be given to historical, epigraphic, textual, and comparative literary studies; or to works that advance and/or evaluate new methodological approaches to the literary record(s). This work must be the result of original research published during the past two years.
Sidnie White Crawford receives the Cross Award in San Diego.
In Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran, Sidnie White Crawford, the Willa Cather Professor of Biblical Studies Emerita at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, offers an innovative and compelling theory that Qumran functioned as a scribal center and a central Essene library. Drawing from decades of research, Crawford builds her case thoroughly and meticulously, examining first scribes and libraries across the Mediterranean and the ancient Near East, including ancient Israel, and then reassessing the archaeological evidence from Qumran. The result is a synthesis of archaeology and text of remarkable breadth and depth, one that places the Qumran collection within the broader context of scribes and libraries in the ancient world. Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran is an invaluable contribution to the fields of Biblical, Ancient Near Eastern, and Qumran Studies from a leading international expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls, one that will become a standard reference for the next generation of scholars.
“I was particularly pleased and proud to receive this award, as Frank Moore Cross was my teacher and dissertation director. To him I owe my research career, and the book is dedicated to his memory.”
-Sidnie White Crawford
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The deadline for book award nominations September 18, 2020. The deadline for service award nominations is September 11, 2020.[/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][vc_column border_color=”rgba(170,170,170,0.01)” width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1496684098866{margin-right: 5px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-right-color: rgba(227,228,228,0.75) !important;border-bottom-color: rgba(227,228,228,0.75) !important;}”][vc_wp_posts title=”BROWSE THE NEWS ARCHIVE” number=”4″][/vc_column][vc_column border_color=”rgba(170,170,170,0.01)” width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1496684008271{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-right-color: rgba(227,228,228,0.75) !important;border-bottom-color: rgba(227,228,228,0.75) !important;}”][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
听鈥� We met with Egyptologist and author, Marianne Eaton-Krauss to discuss King Tut and her upcoming book, 鈥淭he Unknown Tutankhamun.鈥�
听鈥� Listen to ASOR鈥檚 own听听editor, Alex Joffe, talk with Dr.听, about the state of biblical archaeology and the study of the humanities.
听鈥� We asked Dr. Marvin Sweeney听about his reactions to the movie released this past weekend, as well as听biblical and ancient Near Eastern descriptions of Noah.听听is a professor of Religion at the Claremont School of Theology and the Academy of Jewish Religion (California). Dr.听Sweeney has authored nine volumes and numerous studies.
听鈥� We asked Dr. Robert Cargill about the biblical and ancient Near Eastern descriptions of Noah, as well as his reactions to the movie released this past weekend.听听is Assistant Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at听. He is a biblical studies scholar,classicist, archaeologist, author, and digital humanist.
To see a full list and download or stream all our podcasts, please听.听
[/vc_column_text][mk_divider][vc_wp_text]In the previous post on ASOR鈥檚 history, we concluded with the incorporation of 17吃瓜as an organization in the United States. It was in 1921 that 17吃瓜received its name as the American Schools of Oriental Research. This name change signified that the scope of research, both geographically and historically, was greatly expanded from the original goals of the organization in the Levant. To mark this change, 17吃瓜adopted a new seal that was in use until 2017.This seal consisted of the 鈥淓gyptian ankh hieroglyph, the symbol of life, containing within it the Babylonian dinger, the eight-pointed star formed by four cuneiform wedges, signifying deity.鈥� (Meyers 2001; 11).
ASOR’s original seal, circa 1921.
ASOR鈥檚 incorporation was soon followed by the construction of a permanent facility in Jerusalem. In 1917, Mrs. James B. Nies gave a gift of $50,000 to construct a building on land that had been acquired in 1909. Construction finally begin in 1924 under the direction of William F. Albright, ASOR鈥檚 Director until 1929. The design of the school was selected from submissions to a contest held at Yale School of Architecture. Under supervision of Elias T. Gelat, the first of three buildings was completed in 1924. The Annual Professors building, the Main Building, and the Director鈥檚 House were all completed by 1931. These new structures provided housing for members of ASOR鈥檚 staff and an additional 10 rooms to host scholars (Meyers 2001; 11).
The new Jerusalem School was only able to operate for a few years before the outbreak of World War II. The conflict ceased all travel and research based out of the Jerusalem School. 17吃瓜faced further difficulties to scholarship with 鈥渢he establishment of the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan鈥� in 1948 (Meyers 2001; 22). With the Jerusalem School now within the area under Jordanian jurisdiction, 17吃瓜resumed its research activities with multiple archaeological projects throughout the Levant. The multitude of projects undertaken by 17吃瓜from 1950 to 1967 include, 鈥淒hiban, Tell-es Sultan, Khirbet Qumran, Bethel, the Buqe鈥檃h, Petra, el-Jib Shechem, Beth-Zur, Pella, Ghassul, Araq el-Emir鈥� and many others (Meyers 2001; 23). Perhaps the most famous of ASOR鈥檚 research activities was the identification of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1948.
Despite ASOR鈥檚 prolific research based out of the Jerusalem School, plans were made to sell the property due to its increased value. 听This plan was an attempt to solve financial difficulties that 17吃瓜faced in the Spring of 1967. However, this never came to pass as the Six-Day War broke out and the Jerusalem School was now under the jurisdiction of the Israeli State. The aftermath of the Six-Day War saw an 鈥淎rab boycott of all scholars working in Israel鈥� (Meyers 2001; 30). This meant that researchers who chose to work in Israel could not also work in Jordan or Syria.
The Jerusalem School, circa 1930
This led to a very serious dilemma facing 17吃瓜scholars who had previously worked throughout the entire region. In 1970 it was decided the best course of action was to create two separate institutions, one in Jordan and the other in Israel. From this resolution, the American Center for Oriental Research (ACOR) was established in Amman. Subsequently, in 1970 the Jerusalem School was reincorporated as the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research (AIAR). This saw the end of the Jerusalem School as administered by 17吃瓜and the buildings were fully turned over to AIAR in the 1990鈥檚. Today you can visit ASOR鈥檚 former home in Jerusalem by visiting the Albright. AIAR and ACOR continue to thrive as institutions with whom 17吃瓜has continued close ties and working relationship.
Stay tuned for the next installment on the history of ASOR!听Thank you to Joe Seger for his continued input to this series on ASOR鈥檚 history.
Sources:
Meyers, Eric M. and Joe D. Seger. 2001.听ASOR: A History of the American Schools of Oriental Research. In An 17吃瓜Mosaic, edited by Joe D. Seger, pp. 2-103. American Schools of Oriental Research, Boston.[/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][vc_column border_color=”rgba(170,170,170,0.01)” width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1496684098866{margin-right: 5px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-right-color: rgba(227,228,228,0.75) !important;border-bottom-color: rgba(227,228,228,0.75) !important;}”][vc_wp_posts title=”BROWSE THE NEWS ARCHIVE” number=”4″][/vc_column][vc_column border_color=”rgba(170,170,170,0.01)” width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1496684008271{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-right-color: rgba(227,228,228,0.75) !important;border-bottom-color: rgba(227,228,228,0.75) !important;}”][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
The American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) is the preeminent society for individuals interested in the archaeology of the eastern Mediterranean and the Biblical Lands. This blog is intended to facilitate ASOR鈥檚听mission听鈥渢o initiate, encourage and support research into, and public understanding of, the cultures and history of the Near East from the earliest times.鈥漑/vc_column_text][mk_divider thickness=”1″ margin_top=”10″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
FOA Podcast: 鈥淪tate of Biblical Archaeology Around the World,鈥� Featuring Dr. Susan Ackerman
In this episode ASOR鈥檚 own editor, Alex Joffe discusses the present ups and downs of studying biblical archaeology and the humanities, with Dartmouth College professor, Susan Ackerman.
Susan Ackerman is the Preston H. Kelsey Professor of Religion and Professor of Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies at . Her publications include several articles and three books, Under Every Green Tree: Popular Religion in Sixth-Century Judah (Scholars Press, 1992); Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical Israel (Doubleday, 1998); and When Heroes Love: The Ambiguity of Eros in the Stories of Gilgamesh and David (Columbia University Press, 2005). 听She has recently completed a draft of a new book, on women and the religion of ancient Israel. She has been a member of the 17吃瓜Board of Trustees since 2007, served on the Board鈥檚 Finance and Audit Committee and its Strategic Planning Task Force, served on the Board as a member of the Capital Campaign Cabinet and the Board Chair Search Committee. Other current service to 17吃瓜includes serving as a member of the Committee on Publications and on the editorial board of Near Eastern Archaeology. Susan currently serves as the 17吃瓜President, and is dedicated to finding a means for anyone interested in the cultures and history of the Near East to discover and do more.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”46760″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1554835208397{padding-right: 10px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Cavalry was one of the dominant military forces in ancient times. Since its creation, it has played an important role in warfare, and has also had a profound influence on the formation and evolution of civilizations in Europe and Asia. In this context, a comparative study of the origins of cavalry in the Near East and China will help us to understand the interactions between the agricultural and nomadic civilizations of the Eurasian continents.
Archaeological evidence has revealed that people in northern China learned about horse-riding at the beginning of the First Millennium BCE. According to historical documents, in 307 BCE, King Wuling of the Zhao state ordered his army to dress in nomadic fashion and learn how to fight on horseback. This event has been regarded as the origin of cavalry troops in China.
The earliest archaeological evidence of cavalry in China is represented by two clay figurines unearthed in a tomb (M28057) from the late Warring States Period (ca. 350-300 BCE). Another significant discovery was that of the 116 life-sized terra-cotta cavalry figures of Terracotta Warriors and Horses unearthed in Burial Pit 2 in the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi. These archaeological findings indicate that cavalry had become an indispensable military unit by the end of the Warring State Period in China, and played an important role in the wars resulting in a united China (236-221 BCE). During the Western Han Period (202 BCE-8 CE), frequent confrontations with the nomadic Xiongnus in the northern and northwestern frontiers forced the Emperors of the Han Dynasty to establish massive cavalry units. Furthermore, in the 3rd to 4th Centuries CE, the stirrup was invented and subsequently used in ancient China.
It seems that horse-riding started in the ancient Near East quite early, although some scholars have asserted that cavalry was not in existence before the 9th Century BCE. Studies of Assyrian reliefs and texts by scholars suggest that cavalry emerged in Assyria during the early 9thCentury BCE, probably as the result of the need to counterattack nomadic invasions. By the end of the 8th Century BCE, the Assyrians themselves had more cavalry than chariots. The Assyrians introduced the 鈥渕artingale鈥� collar, an important innovation which helped riders keep control of their horses while shooting.
A few preliminary observations can be drawn here from a comparative study of the origins of cavalry in the ancient Near East and China:
Cavalry in ancient China probably originated as a result of influences from the Mongolian steppes; another direction of influences came from the Altai Mountains in the northwestern part of China. Among the reasons for the creation of cavalry were also probably the large-scale climate changes during this period.
Although, as stated above, cavalry appeared in the Near East as early as the 9th century BCE, much earlier than in ancient China, there is actually no connection between the two and cavalry from the Near East did not influence the cavalry of ancient China.
Based on my comparative study, I conclude that nomadic tribes on their northern frontiers influenced the creation of cavalry in both the ancient Near East and China. The riding tactics of the Scythians and the Cimmerians probably forced the Assyrians to adopt cavalry, and the same thing happened in ancient China. Repeated invasions by nomadic Mongolian tribes forced the kings in China to change their warfare tactics and they adopted the cavalry. Having to defend against nomadic invasions was one of the most important motivations contributing to the origins of cavalry in the ancient Near East and China.
After the creation of a special cavalry unit, the peoples of the ancient Near East and China made some innovations to the equine equipment in order to control their horses during fighting. The 鈥渕artingale鈥� collar was probably an innovation of the Near East, and stirrups were invented in ancient China.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider thickness=”1″ margin_top=”10″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this blog or found by following any link on this blog. 17吃瓜will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information. 17吃瓜will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. The opinions expressed by Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of 17吃瓜or any employee thereof.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
404 17吃瓜Dig Fellowships and Excavation Grants Awarded Since 2007
At the 2019 17吃瓜Annual Meeting in San Diego, Sidnie White Crawford was awarded the Frank Moore Cross Award for her book, (Eerdmans). This award is presented to the author/editor of the most substantial volume(s) related to the history and/or religion of the ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean. Primary consideration will be given to historical, epigraphic, textual, and comparative literary studies; or to works that advance and/or evaluate new methodological approaches to the literary record(s). This work must be the result of original research published during the past two years.
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