The projects

The primary goals of our wide-ranging project are to investigate in detail (1) the socio-economic development of northern Syria in later prehistory, ca. 6800-5000 BC, and (2) the organization and structure of the Assyrian kingdom in northern Syria in the Late Bronze Age, ca. 1300-1100 BC. Both periods represent eras of momentous change in material culture, the organization of settlement and the structure of socio-economic relationships, and are of crucial importance in our understanding of the development of early villages and the formation of large territorial states in Syria. However, despite their widely recognized importance, both periods are still listed among the least known in the Near East.

Our project aims to fill in the existing gaps in our knowledge and appreciation of ancient society in northern Syria, and has proved to be very successful indeed.

At present, large-scale excavations are carried out at Tell Sabi Abyad with its extensive late Neolithic occupation on the slopes and the Assyrian fortress on the top of the mound. Extensive research is also carried out at nearby Tell Sabi Abyad II and Khirbet esh-Shenef, both small Neolithic villages. And last but not least we are involved in field reconnaissances in the Balikh valley, in order to come to a better insight in occupation and settlement in the region through the ages.

Attention: the research presented here primarily concerns our work till 1999. The research from more recent years (2001 till today) is shown in the yearly reports. See: yearly excavation - essential to get a full picture of the project!