The 2004 excavation campaign

The excavation team of the National Museum of Antiquities and Leiden University has returned to the Netherlands. On October 31st the 2004 excavation campaign was concluded. Over 100 men and women had been working hard for months. Again they have discovered a wealth of archaeological information about a far and distant past.

This year the digging was conducted in various places at Tell Sabi Abyad. The remains of prehistoric houses and storage buildings were uncovered, 8000 to 9000 years old. These buildings contain the oldest pottery of Syria, and perhaps of the Near East in general.

In addition the remains of Assyrian occupation from the 12th century BC were investigated further. Around the Assyrian fortress that had been excavated before, workshops were found. Here 37 clay tablets with cuneiform inscriptions were recovered.

If you want to know more about the fascinating results of the 2004 campaign, please go to: 2004 expedition.