ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE SHADOW OF THE ZIGGURAT: INITIAL RESULTS OF A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMME AT UR

Abstract

The region of ancient Mesopotamia has long been a focal point for archaeological investigations. Since the early explorations of the nineteenth century, the discipline has been transformed along with the region, witnessing colonialism and independence, as well as coups and conflicts. At the end of the twentieth century, international archaeological investment experienced a significant decline in this region, due to ongoing war and embargoes. In the wake of the Iraq War, foreign archaeological teams have begun flooding back into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the southern governorates. However, the approach to excavations has changed a great deal since the fall of the Ba'ath government. Where once there was a strict policy of segregation between foreign and local archaeologists, collaborations are now encouraged. The difficulty now has become finding how to build and sustain these relationships, re-opening lines of exchange and learning. This article approaches this question with the case study of the 2017 excavations at Ur in the Dhi Qar governorate in the south of Iraq.