Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2016
This paper presents a preliminary report on the first two seasons of work by The Land of Nineveh Archaeological Project (LoNAP) of Udine University that aims to understand the formation and transformation of the cultural and natural landscape of northern Mesopotamia, (embracing large parts of the governorates of Ninawa and Dohuk) from the Palaeolithic to the Islamic period. Its purpose is to comprehend patterns of settlement, land use and management, based on a regional archaeological surface survey and excavation. These objectives are closely tied to the geoarcheological and bioarchaeological reconstruction of the ancient natural environment and its evolution as a result of global climatic fluctuations and human impact.
The author of each section is indicated by their initials.
The Land of Nineveh Archaeological Project of the University of Udine is extremely grateful to the General Directorate of Antiquities of the Kurdistan Regional Government (directed by Kak Abubakir Othman Zeineddin), the Directorate of Antiquities of Dohuk (directed by Dr Hassan Qasim Ahmad) and the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Baghdad for granting all necessary work permits and for their unflagging support and encouragement. Essential too, has been the assistance and friendship guaranteed by Dr Abdallah Khorsheed Qadir, Director of the Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage (Erbil), who has sustained our project from its beginning in 2011 with generosity and determination. We owe a special debt to the Italian Ambassador in Iraq, Massimo Marotti, and the Italian Consul in Erbil, Carmelo Ficarra, and their staff for the unremitting support they have given to LoNAP. Funding for the 2012 and 2013 field campaigns was provided by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Authority, the Udine Provincial Authority, the University of Udine, Informest, the Udine and Pordenone Banking Foundation and a private sponsor (Giorgiutti & Associates Ltd).
In the field, we were greatly helped by the deep knowledge of the area possessed by Biwar Khinisi and Muhammad Arif Tatar. Their generosity and friendship have also been sincerely appreciated. LoNAP owes a special debt to Jason Ur (Harvard University), for making available numerous satellite and aerial photographs and topographic maps of the region and for his constant willingness to cooperate and exchange scientific information. We also thank Rafal Koliński (Upper Greater Zab Archaeological Reconnaissance) and Julian Reade for the advice, references and useful information they provided and Roger J. Matthews and the British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI), for allowing the use of aerial photographs taken by Hunting Aerial. Alberto Savioli (University of Udine) is to be thanked for maps and the analysis of a variety of satellite remote sensing imagery, the GIS management and field work. Finally, this project would not be possible without the enthusiastic and unfailing support of the whole LoNAP academic team. An earlier draft of this paper was read by Jason Ur and the late Tony Wilkinson (Durham University), who provided insightful comments and useful suggestions. This article also benefited from references provided by Nele Ziegler (CNRS, École du Louvre) and Cristina Tonghini (University of Venice) and from the remarks of an anonymous reviewer.