The Anatomy of a Mesopotamian City : Survey and Soundings at Mashkan-shapir

This substantial volume presents the results of the Mashkan-shapir project which surveyed the extensive remains of this Old Babylonian city to the north of Nippur in the deserts of Iraq. Supported by numerous photographs, illustrations and plans, the book presents the findings from a complete aerial survey of the site, which revealed city walls, a network of canals, platforms and graves. Each aerial photograph is presented opposite an explanatory plan as well as a description. Further plans illustrate the distribution of features and objects. Exploratory trenches tested the depth and preservation of deposits and the results of that can be found in appendices. The study also contains detailed reports on the finds, which included ceramics, model chariots, terracotta statuary, stone tools and inscriptions. A cataloue of objects is included. Front Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 8 Preface 10 Chapter 1: Research Design 20 Chapter 2: The Site and Its Environs 27 Chapter 3: A History of Mashkan-shapir and Its Role in the Kingdom of Larsa 45 Chapter 4: Survey Methods andAnalytic Procedures 62 Chapter 5: Types and Characteristics ofSurface Features 72 Chapter 6: The Objects 101 Chapter 7: A Building Inscription of Sin-iddinam and Other Inscribed Materials from Abu Duwari 154 Chapter 8: Locational Data 172 Chapter 9: Distribution of Features and Objects in the Urban Environment 345 Chapter 10: Conclusions 392 Appendixes 400 Appendix 1: Soundings 400 Appendix 2: Off-Site Archaeology in the Area of Mashkan-Shapir 421 Appendix 3: Object Catalog 435 Appendix IV: Key for Object Coding 499 Appendix V: Objects by Findspot 501 Bibliography 508 Research Design -- The Site And Its Environs -- A History Of Mashkan-shapir And Its Role In The Kingdom Of Larsa / Piotr Steinkeller -- Survey Methods And Analytic Procedures -- Types And Characteristics Of Surface Features -- The Objects -- A Building Inscription Of Sin-iddinam And Other Inscribed Materials From Abu Duwari / Piotr Steinkeller -- Locational Data -- Distribution Of Features And Objects In The Urban Environment -- Conclusions -- Soundings -- Off-site Archaeology In The Area Of Mashkan-shapir / Tony J. Wilkinson. By Elizabeth C. Stone And Paul Zimansky ; With Epigraphy By Piotr Steinkeller ; And Contributions By Vincent Pigott, Lisa Wells, And Tony Wilkinson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 489-504). This volume describes and analyzes the survey work at the site of the ancient Mesopotamian city, Mashkan-shapir. A general description of the site and its environs is followed by the rationale for identifying the site as Mashkan-shapir. Specific details of the archaeological data are followed by analysis and a series of supplementary appendices.