1.12. Excavating Mesopotamian Towns

Today, Mesopotamian excavators have much higher standards of accuracy and care in recording than in the old days, so that few dig huge areas the way Ur was excavated. Moreover, few archaeologists have the funds to employ large teams of excavators. Thus, the mode of obtaining data has changed.

Archaeology has advanced significantly, and methods used today are much more precise than in past excavations like that of Ur. This reflects a broader trend in archaeological practices where funding constraints limit the size of excavation teams, leading to more focused and careful work. As a result, excavators today work in smaller, more controlled areas, allowing for greater accuracy in documenting their findings.

Imagine a modern classroom using tablets and computers for research instead of large bookshelves filled with textbooks. The focus is on utilizing technology efficiently, much like how archaeologists today prioritize detailed excavations over larger, less thorough digs.

Take the small town at Abu Salabikh, about 10 hectares in area in 2500 BCE with a population less than 10,000. The outlines of walls were at first traced by scraping surfaces. This involves scraping off the top few millimetres of the mound with the sharp and wide end of a shovel or other tool. While the soil underneath was still slightly moist, the archaeologist could make out different colours, textures and lines of brick walls or pits or other features.

Archaeologists excavated the town of Abu Salabikh, a relatively small site, by carefully scraping the surface soil to reveal structural outlines like walls. This method takes advantage of the moisture of the soil to make differences in color and texture visible, allowing for detailed mapping of ancient structures, which aids in understanding the layout and function of those areas.

Think of it like revealing a hidden painting beneath layers of old paint on a canvas. With careful scraping and attention, the original artwork becomes visible, just as the walls of ancient structures were unveiled through careful excavation.

A few houses that were discovered were excavated. The archaeologists also sieved through tons of earth to recover plant and animal remains, and in the process identified many species of plants and animals and found large quantities of charred fish bones that had been swept out on to the streets.

During the excavation, several houses were uncovered, and archaeologists meticulously sifted through the earth to find remnants of past life, such as animal bones and plant matter. This information helps them to not only identify dietary practices but also the types of agriculture and animal husbandry in the ancient community, revealing insights into the daily lives of the residents.

This process is similar to sifting through a pile of old family photos to piece together the history of an ancestor. Each photo or artifact adds a detail that builds a fuller picture of what life was like in a past time.

Plant seeds and fibre remained after dung cakes had been burned as fuel and thus kitchens were identified. Living rooms were those with fewer traces. Because they found the teeth of very young pigs on the streets, archaeologists concluded that pigs must have roamed freely here as in any other Mesopotamian town.

Archaeologists could identify specific rooms in the houses, like kitchens, from remnants such as plant materials and residues from fuel sources. The discovery of pig teeth indicates that domesticated animals were part of everyday life. This evidence helps researchers understand not just the structure of the town but also the social and economic practices of its inhabitants.

It’s akin to looking for clues in a detective story; finding kitchen materials indicates that cooking was done in that area, just like footprints on a path can suggest someone walked that way regularly.

In fact, one house burial contained some pig bones – the dead person must have been given some pork for his nourishment in the afterlife! The archaeologists also made microscopic studies of room floors to decide which rooms in a house were roofed (with poplar logs, palm leaves, straw, etc.) and which were open to the sky.

The finding of pig bones in a burial site suggests that the practice of providing food for the dead was significant, reflecting beliefs about the afterlife. Furthermore, microscopic studies helped them determine construction techniques and material uses, revealing more about the domestic life and architectural practices within the community.

Imagine discovering items in an attic that belonged to your grandparents, which reveal their interests and how they lived. Similarly, these archaeological finds help researchers learn about the lifestyle and beliefs of the Mesopotamians.

Mesopotamians valued city life in which people of many communities and cultures lived side by side. After cities were destroyed in war, they recalled them in poetry.

City life in Mesopotamia was cherished and marked by diverse cultures living together. This mixture contributed to a vibrant urban atmosphere. The cultural memories of these cities persisted even after their destruction, indicating a deep emotional and cultural attachment to their urban environments.

It’s similar to how communities today remember and honor their historical towns or neighborhoods, regardless of the changes or demolitions that have taken place, often preserving their legacies through storytelling and art.

--