Project History

 

Tell es-Sweyhat was originally excavated for three seasons from 1973-75 as part of the international salvage project undertaken in connection with the construction of the hydroelectric dam at Tabqa (Holland 1976, 1977; van Zeist and Bakker-Heeres 1985; Buitenhuis 1983). The University of Pennsylvania Museum renewed the excavations with a short first field season from August 2 to September 7, 1989 (Holland and Zettler 1991: 717-19). Subsequently, the University of Pennsylvania Museum and the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute formed a joint expedition to carry out a three month field season from September 15 to November 29, 1991 (Holland, Wilkinson and Zettler 1994: 139-42). Following the 1991 season, Pennsylvania and Chicago opted to continue work every year, alternating field seasons, while co-ordinating overall goals. The University of Chicago worked in Fall, 1992 (Holland and Zettler 1994: 1939-42); the University of Pennsylvania Museum from April 19 to June 28, 1993, April 25 to July 7, 1995 and March 3 to April 10, 1998, with short study seasons in 1994, 1996 and 1997.

 

 

1989 Season

As for the field crews, in 1989 Thomas A. Holland (University of Chicago) and Richard L. Zettler (University of Pennsylvania) served as joint Directors. Lee Horne, (Museum Applied Science Center for Archaeology, hereafter MASCA) undertook the survey of the lower town and also served as a site supervisor. Christine Hide and Stephen P. Harvey (University of Pennsylvania) were site supervisors. In addition to her other work, Christine Hide undertook flotation of soil samples. Andrew Weiss (MASCA)was survey or/computer specialist. Gil J. Stein (Analytical and Conservation Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution) joined the expedition early in the season for a preliminary investigation of the Tell es-Sweyhat region. Rudolf Mayer (Yale University) came at the end of the season and provided much needed assistance in section drawing. Mohammad Muktash (Raqqa) served as representative of the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums.

1991 Season

In 1991 Holland and Zettler were again joint Directors. Tony J.Wilkinson (British School of Archaeology in Iraq) undertook regional survey. Jennifer Arzt (University of Chicago), Timothy Adams, Adam Ford, Emma Murray, Sally Randell (Institute of Archaeology, London University), Michael D. Danti and Matthew Waters (University of Pennsylvania) were site supervisors. Mike Danti and Matt Waters performed double duty. Danti served as surveyor/computer specialist; Waters carried out flotation of soils amples. John Ellsworth (Oriental Institute) was draftsman and Donna Strahan (Walters Art Gallery) and Mark Fenn (Analytical and Conservation Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution) conservators. Anwar Ghafour, photographer of the Aleppo Museum, joined us for several weeks tophotograph the site and artifacts. Bassam Falhout (Damascus), Mohammed Ali (Aleppo) and Ma'an Hassoun (Raqqa) were successive representatives of the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums.

 

 

1993 Season

In 1993 Zettler acted as Field Director. Michael D. Danti was Assistant Director and also served as surveyor/computer specialist and site supervisor. James A. Armstrong (University of Chicago) took overall charge of work on the high mound; directed work in Operation 1; and, served as pottery specialist. Peter N. Peregrine (Juniata College) was in charge of remote sensing and was assisted by Andrew J. Bell (University of Bradford, England). Steven Tinney (Babylonian Section, University of PennsylvaniaMuseum), the project's epigrapher, visited the site for two weeks. Kevin Danti (Purdue University), Erica Ehrenberg (Institute of Fine Arts, New York University), Augustine Fahey, Julia Lewandowski, James Matthieu, Amy Westerman (University of Pennsylvania) and Allen McCune (University of Chicago) were site supervisors. Julia Lewandowski also undertook flotation of soil samples, while Kevin Danti and Amy Westerman assisted Armstrong in work on the pottery. Erica Ehrenberg was field registrar. Jacqueline Shaffer (Time-Life Books) served as draftsman and photographer. Mustafa Hussein (Raqqa) was the representative of the Directorate-General of Antiquities. The University of Pennsylvania Museum's 1993 research and excavations were supported by the American Philosophical Society and the National Endowment for the Humanities (RK-20053-93).

1995 Season

In 1995 Zettler was Field Director, with Danti continuing as Assistant Director, surveyor/computer specialist and site supervisor. Armstrong (Semitic Museum, Harvard University) oversaw excavations in Operations 1, 12 and 20 on the main mound and served as pottery specialist. Peregrine (Lawrence University) was in charge of remote sensing and also acted as a site supervisor; Matthew Braithwaite (University of Bradford, England) assisted Peregrine and carried out the magnetic mapping. Naomi F.Miller (MASCA) joined the excavations in the field for the first time to carry out archaeobotanical studies. She also gave generously of her time as a site supervisor when need arose. Brad Bentz, William R. Fitts and Jill Weber (University of Pennsylvania), Kevin Danti, Paul Delnero and Peter Roberson (Purdue University), and 'yad Yunus (University of Damascus) were site supervisors. In addition to their roles as site supervisors, Jill Weber took charge of faunal remains; Bentz, Kevin Danti, Roberson and Yunus assisted Armstrong with pottery; and, Paul Delnero acted as field registrar. Denise Hoffman (Near Eastern Section, University of Pennsylvania Museum) served as staff artist. Nowris Mohammed (Raqqa) was the representative of the Directorate-General of Antiquities. Our 1995 excavations were supported by grants from the National Endowment of the Humanities (RK-20235-95) and the National Geographic Society (5498-95).

1998 Season

In 1998, Richard Zettler served as General Director, with Michael Danti as Field Director, surveyor/computer specialist and site supervisor. William Hafford (University of Pennsylvania), Augustine Fahey and Jill Weber served as site supervisors. Hafford also assisted Danti with surveying and computer work, while Weber doubled as faunal specialist. Naomi F. Miller again joined the field team as botanical specialist. Carole Linderman (University of Pennsylvania) served as draftsman and field registrar. Fayez Soueid (Damascus) represented the Directorate-General of Antiquties and Museums.

2000 Season

In 2000, Richard Zettler was the General Director and Michael Danti was the Field Director, surveyor and area supervisor. William Hafford was a surveyor and area supervisor along with Fuad Friegeh, James Armstrong, Elizabeth Cooper (ceramicist), Kevin Danti, Carole Linderman, Uzma Rizvi, Frank Cho and Ted Hemmaplardh (artist). Mohammad Muktash (Raqqa) represented the Directorate-General of Antiquties and Museums.

2001 Season

In 2001, Richard Zettler again served as General Director and Michael Danti was Field Director, surveyor and area supervisor. William Hafford was a surveyor and area supervisor, along with Ben Porter, Uzma Rizvi, Jill Weber (faunal specialist) and Andrea DiGiorgi.

 

 

2005 Season

In 2005, the General Director was Richard Zettler, with Michael Danti serving as the Field Director, surveyor and area supervisor. Other area supervisors were William Hafford, Nathanial Brill, Chris Brinker, Leigh Stork, Darren Ashby and Jennifer Swerida. Nouras Mohammad (Raqqa) represented the Directorate-General of Antiquties and Museums.