Goals of the 2012 EPAS Field Season
In the first season of the Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey (EPAS), our goals were:
- Obtain a five-year contract with the General Directorate of Antiquities of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq;
- Test our satellite-based archaeological site identification methodology;
- Develop a field survey methodology suitable for the physical and cultural environment of the Erbil plain;
- Conduct intensive field survey of 2-3 small regions
EPAS successfully attained these four goals in our 2012 field season, which included 18 field days between 4 August and 29 August. For a full report, see Jason Ur et al., "Ancient Cities and Landscapes in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: The Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey 2012 Season" in the journal Iraq (PDF available here).
Results
- 93 archaeological sites covering 628.3 hectares (not counting Neo-Assyrian and Medieval Erbil, which may have been as large as 355 hectares);
- 9 ancient canals;
- 16,688 pot sherds, totaling 576 kilos
Team Members of EPAS 2012
- Prof. Jason Ur, Harvard University, USA (Project Director)
- Prof. Lidewijde De Jong, Groningen University, the Netherlands (Associate Director)
- Dr. James Osborne, Johns Hopkins University, USA (Associate Director)
- Dr. Jessica Giraud, IFPO Erbil (Associate Director)
- Mr. Max Price, Harvard University (Graduate Student of Archaeology)
- Mr. Khalil Barzanji, Directorate of Antiquities, Erbil (Representative)
- Mr. Gareb Ismail Bawamurad, Directorate of Antiquities, Erbil (Representative)
- Mr. Bapir Rashid Bawel (Interpreter and Driver)