The History of Archaeological Work and Attitudes Towards Antiquities at Nineveh and Uruk
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Authors
Al-Soof, Tina
Date
2024-10
Type
other
Language
en
Keyword
Classical Archaeology , Historical cultures , Architectural conservation and restoration , Ancient history , Non-European Archaeology
Alternative Title
Abstract
Archaeology as a discipline is deeply connected and blurs into politics, colonialism, national identity and economic interests. The history of ancient regions and civilizations, such as that of Mesopotamia, can be studied with these themes in mind in order to understand how these civilizations evolved and the ways their cultural, social, and technological contributions have shaped aspects of the modern world. Many ancient Mesopotamian sites have been revealed since the emergence of archaeological exploration, including the two sites known as Nineveh and Uruk. Nineveh, (or Kouyunjik, the name it was known by during the Ottoman Empire period), was the largest city and capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (911 BC–609 BC, Nineveh as the capital from 705–612 BC). Uruk, also known as Warka, is an ancient Mesopotamian site in southern Iraq that has been the focus of archaeological exploration for over 165 years. These sites are a key point of reference for understanding the development of early urbanisation, writing, architecture, production, and social structure.
Over nearly two centuries, changing politics, methods of archaeology and attitudes towards antiquities have affected the way these sites were handled. My major research paper focuses on those critical changes which reveal the evolution of archaeology from a Western-dominated affair to a more inclusive practice. In this paper, I will discuss and evaluate the history of archaeological work and attitudes towards antiquities at Nineveh and Uruk with an emphasis on the teams that excavated there, their methods of excavation, the conditions of the permits they were given, as well as the significant finds and their subsequent distribution. The analysis will be divided into historical time periods (from the Ottoman Empire period to Iraq after the US-led invasion of 2003) based on the modern history of this region. Governmental and professional policies are also explored in regard to antiquities laws, methods of archaeology and local versus foreign involvement.
Description
Citation
Al-Soof, Tina. “The History of Archaeological Work and Attitudes Towards Antiquities at Nineveh and Uruk.” Queen's University, 2024, 1–105.