Veenhof-lezing: Qala’at Halwanji — a 4000 year old fortress in Syria
20-11-2009 Taffeh-zaal Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
De Veenhof-lezing wordt gehouden op vrijdagavond 20 november 2009 in de Taffeh-zaal van het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. Vrij entree.
Archaeological investigations at Qala’at Halwanji in northern Syria were initiated in 2008-9 by Jesper Eidem, in collaboration with the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums.
Qala’at Halwanji is a 5 ha large fortress of the mature Middle Bronze Age (18th-17th cent. BC) located on the Sajour river ca. 15 km west of the Euphrates. A series of sondages have revealed extremely well preserved architectural remains, all heavily burnt in a destructive fire in antiquity. Among the finds are clay seal impressions made with some of the finest seals known from ancient Syria, and revealing high-level international connections. The Halwanji fortress must have been established by one of the major regional powers of the period, but the precise identity of this power and the whole historical scenario is as yet unclear.
The site will be the focus for a large project of regional survey, excavation and restoration planned as one of the activities of NINO in the coming years.
Dr. Jesper Eidem is directeur van het Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten sinds 1 augustus 2009.
De lezing is Engelstalig.
Na de lezing is er een afscheidsreceptie voor de vertrekkende directeur van het NINO, dr. J.J. Roodenberg.