Tell Beydar, the 2000-2002 Seasons of Excavations, the 2003-2004 Seasons of Architectural Restoration. A Preliminary Report

The third volume about the Euro-Syrian excavations at Tell Beydar constitutes the progress report of the 2000 to 2002 seasons of excavations and the 2003 - 2004 (springtime) seasons of architectural restoration. The central acropolis is currently almost completely uncovered, revealing the Early Jezirah IIIb administrative centre of the ancient city of Nabada.

Immediately S of the acropolis, three temples (B, C and D), workshops and storerooms are located in a specific quarter. Soundings have been initiated below the floors of the EJ IIIb Palace and Temple A, reaching official architecture from the EJ IIIa period. B Field has been extended, providing more private houses. Private houses were discovered as well in Field Q. A new area of excavations (P) is scheduled to survey the E part of the city. W of  Temple C, a new area of excavations (M/O) reaches a quarter of the city seemingly devoted to handicraft and economical purposes.

The hellenistic building of Area A provides clues about architecture, pottery and stratigraphy of a poorly documented period in Upper Mesopotamia.

In 2003 a large programme of architectural restoration has been launched, having as main priority the preservation of the EJ IIIb official buildings of the central acropolis. The methods of consolidation/restoration/reconstruction are detailed in the volume. The hellenistic building of Area A has been restored as well.

Table des matières

SECTION I: Introduction / M. LEBEAU & A. SULEIMAN, Introduction 

SECTION II: Tell Beydar I - III^rd Millennium / Tell Beydar I - III^e millénaire : V. VAN DER STEDE, Le chantier B: résultats des campagnes 2000 – 2002 ; J. BRETSCHNEIDER, T. CUNNINGHAM & G. JANS, Report on the 2000 Excavation in the South-Western Part of the Early Dynastic Temple A on the Acropolis of Tell Beydar ; C. DEZZI BARDESCHI & M-E. STÉNUIT, La fouille du Chantier L – Temple A à l'époque EJ IIIb et bâtiment associé (campagnes 2001 – 2002) ; M. DEBRUYNE & Greta JANS, The South-Eastern Area of the ‘Palatial Complex’ of Tell Beydar: The EJ III / ED III Main Entrance, Monumental Stairway and Temple D ; A. SULEIMAN (with the assistance of O. AL-MASHREF & Q. AL-MUHAMMAD), Temples B and C, Storage Building and Artisanal Quarter (Fields F3, M & O, Seasons 2000 – 2002) ; J. BRETSCHNEIDER & T. CUNNINGHAM, An Elite Akkadian Grave on the Acropolis at Tell Beydar ; M-E. STÉNUIT, Chantier L: sondages EJ IIIa sur l'acropole centrale – campagnes  2000-2001-2003 ; A. PRUSS, Tell Beydar 2002 – Field P ; M-E. STÉNUIT, La fouille du Chantier Q – campagne 2002

SECTION III: Tell Beydar I - Hellenistic Period / Tell Beydar I - Période hellénistique : R. MARTÍN GALÁN & E. DEL CASTILLO OLIVARES-PANTOJA, The Hellenistic Palace of Tell Beydar ; R. MARTÍN GALÁN, The Hellenistic Pottery of Field A ; R. MARTÍN GALÁN, Structural and Functional Analysis

SECTION IV: Tell Beydar I - Restoration / Tell Beydar I - Restauration : M-E. STÉNUIT, Deux campagnes de restauration architecturale à Tell Beydar/Nabada (automne 2003, printemps 2004)