Direction
Aline Tenu (CNRS – UMR 7041 ArScAn)
How Eveha Participates
Topography
Archaeological investigations
Location
Iraq
The seventh excavation campaign at Kunara took place from September 14 to October 13, 2019, continuing the exploration of Areas B, C, and E. Areas B and C have been under excavation since 2012, and Area E since 2015. All three are located in the lower city, where research is now concentrated.
Area B
This year, the excavation of building B. 715, located in the southwest of the site, began. A room of at least 30 $m^2$ was discovered; it had been deliberately filled in and subsequently reoccupied during the 2nd millennium BC. This later phase is characterized by ceramic assemblages featuring varied geometric, anthropomorphic, and animal motifs. Additionally, potsherds—though they cannot be linked with certainty to specific architectural remains—provide evidence of an Iron Age occupation.
Area C
Excavations focused on the northwestern part of the area. A type of plaza, meticulously paved with pebbles and covered in ceramic shards, was unearthed, along with several installations situated within a building or a small courtyard enclosed by low walls. The latter was associated with other structures, though their clearance has only just begun. Resuming the excavation of the “cupule room” in building B. 517 led to the discovery of a new floor, exceptionally rich in ceramic material.
Area E
Two sectors were excavated to continue the exploration of the monumental building B. 659. To the north, its northeast corner was cleared along with a new room (L. 911), which likely marks the northern limit of the building. To the south of L. 692 (discovered in 2018), another new room was found. This room, L. 915, features a floor carefully paved with terracotta tiles, covered and grouted with bitumen.
In parallel with the site excavations, ceramic and archaeozoological studies continued, while micromorphological samples were taken from the wall superstructures to gain further insight into construction methods.
