TELL SHIYUKH TAHTANI, SYRIAREPORT OF THE 2006-09 SEASONS

The Italian excavations at Shiyukh Tahtani have recently resumed, revealinga long occupation sequence on the mound’s eastern slope (Area CD). InTrench D23, on the summit, an Iron Age level II building contained a richarray of pottery, sheep knuckle bones, clay ‘bobbins’ and an unstratifiedEgyptian scarab of Menkheperre. An earlier massive building (LBA ?) wasalso excavated below the Iron Age II occupation. Halfway down the slopethe lower level of a large burnt complex of Middle Bronze I date containedrich finds and various burials characterized by peculiar rituals. Finally, in adeep trench down below the slope, EB I-II remains included niched mud-brickarchitecture of fine Mesopotamian tradition as well as many pot burials of theCarchemish ‘champagne-cup culture’. All these finds enhance the knowledgeabout the Bronze and Iron Age civilization of the Syrian Euphrates.