Tell Shiyukh Tahtani, Syria Report of the 2006-09 Seasons

The Italian excavations at Shiyukh Tahtani have recently resumed, revealing a long occupation sequence on the mound\u2019s eastern slope (Area CD). In Trench D23, on the summit, an Iron Age level II building contained a rich array of pottery, sheep knuckle bones, clay \u2018bobbins\u2019 and an unstrati\uf001fied Egyptian scarab of Menkheperre. An earlier massive building (LBA ?) was also excavated below the Iron Age II occupation. Halfway down the slope the lower level of a large burnt complex of Middle Bronze I date contained rich \uf001finds and various burials characterized by peculiar rituals. Finally, in a deep trench down below the slope, EB I-II remains included niched mud-brick architecture of \uf001fine Mesopotamian tradition as well as many pot burials of the Carchemish \u2018champagne-\uadcup culture\u2019. All these \uf001finds enhance the knowledge about the Bronze and Iron Age civilization of the Syrian Euphrates