Tayma, Saudi-Arabien. Survey im Gräberfeld von Rujum Saʿsaʿ

A first systematic surface survey has been carried out in Rujum Saʿsaʿ, an ancient burial ground located south of the oasis of Tayma, increasingly threatened by infrastructural projects of the modern settlement. Within a 700 × 100 m large transect altogether 109 units, 101 of which are graves, were identified and recorded by Structure from Motion. There are three main types of structures: circular graves built of at least two rings of different height resulting in a stepped section; circular graves with cross-shaped interior; and rectangular graves attached to each other at the long side. The associated materials contained human bones, artifacts (primarily beads) and pottery. The latter is dominated by sherds covering most of the 2nd millennium BC. Less represented is Iron Age material (11th to 5th centuries BC). Only few sherds can be dated to the 3rd millennium BC

Tayma, Saudi-Arabien. Funeräre Landschaften, Kontakte und Mobilität in der Bronzezeit ­Nordwestarabiens (3.–2. Jt. v. Chr.). Die Arbeiten des Jahres 2020

First systematic investigations in the cemeteries of Rujum Sa'sa' south of the Tayma oasis focused on the interdisciplinary excavation and analysis of ­Bronze Age (3rd and 2nd millennia BCE) built tombs. More than two thousands of such tombs have survived as mounds on the surface, forming an extensive burial landscape. Most of them have a circular shape, and at least two types of different chambers are attested. Rectangular graves, meanwhile, are less common. During the first season of the project (2020), excavations were ­conducted in six graves. 14C data from human remains from these graves ­cover the late 3rd to early 2nd millennium BCE. The excavations and analysis of the collapse indicate that the tombs were not designed as ›tumuli‹ but were constructed with visible facades

Tayma, Saudi-Arabien. Funeräre Landschaften, Kontakte und Mobilität in der Bronzezeit Nordwestarabiens (3.–2. Jt. v. Chr.). Die Arbeiten des Jahres 2021

In the second season of systematic investigations in the cemeteries of Rujum Sa‘sa‘ south of the Tayma Oasis, interdisciplinary research by archaeologists and bioarchaeologists on built tombs of the Early to Middle Bronze Age (3rd and 2nd millennia BC) continued. In addition to the seven graves excavated in the previous season, 11 circular graves were investigated for the first time and bioarchaeological analysis of the human bone material continued. One of the most important results is that the circular graves show a greater architectural diversity than previously expected, indicating a pronounced ­social differentiation. For the first time, a structure known as a ›pendant‹ or ›keyhole‹ was excavated in Tayma amidst the circular graves

Arbil, Irak. Ausgrabungen und Survey im Stadtgebiet von Arbil. Die Arbeiten des Jahres 2016

In the context of a study season, the diagnostic pottery from the post-Assyrian occupation above the Neo-Assyrian tomb excavated in the city of Arbil between 2009 and 2011 as well as the surface ceramics collected during the 2015 lower town survey was completely processed. Whereas the material from the excavations was dominated by Iron Age specimens, the composition of the survey material is markedly different. More than half of the ceramics has been identified as belonging to the early to middle Islamic periods – meaningful expression of the significance of Arbil in the post-classical periods. In Germany, based on a rectified Pleiades satellite image of 2013, a 3D-model of the lower town area of Arbil was generated, indicating ancient topographic features suggesting a reconstruction of the perimeter wall ofthe lower town different from previous hypotheses

Tayma, Saudi-Arabien: Multidisziplinäre Forschungen in der Oase

Multidisciplinary research at the oasis of Tayma, Northwest Arabia, revealed further information on the beginning of oasis cultivation towards the end of the 5th millennium BC and subsequently on the establishment of a substantial 3rd millennium BC occupation also at the centre of the site. Tayma was a significant place at that time with far reaching contacts to urban centres in neighbouring regions. On the long run, these relations laid the foundation for the oasis’ importance in the context of the 1st millennium BC overland caravan trade. Further investigations focused on 2nd and 1st millennium BC contexts of public and residential architecture at the site. The hydrological project continued its work on the reconstruction of the pertaining resource management. First epigraphic investigations in the hinterland of the oasis were also carried out

Tayma, Saudi-Arabien: Reflectance Transformation Imaging: Innovative Dokumentationstechnologie in der Archäologie

A series of archaeological artefacts from the excavations at Tayma have been recorded by Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), “an innovative computational photographic method capturing shape and colour of the surface of the archaeological artefacts” (www.culturalheritageimaging. org). Enabling the interactive re-lighting of the object from any direction, it is an extremely useful tool for archaeologists and epigraphers. In addition to a total of 158 objects, among them the majority of the inscriptions, human bones and pottery have been recorded in collaboration with DAI’s ITDepartment

Tayma, Saudi-Arabien. Bauwerkserhaltung. Die Arbeiten der Jahre 2015 bis 2017

In the framework of the conservation and restoration concept for the archaeological site of Tayma, work focused on the implementation of conservation measures on remains of a temple building which has been selected for future presentation within the tourist development of the site. Regular monitoring provided useful information for the planning of future restoration work. Backfilling operations, aimed at ensuring a long-term protection, continued in trenches with a completed archaeological documentation. A booklet and a documentary video on the protection of the architectural remains at Tayma were published. In 2017 a first public on-site event took place, constituting a model case for the post-excavation use of the site

Tayma, Saudi-Arabien: Rettungsgrabungen im Gräberfeld von al-Nasim

Saudi-German salvage excavations in the cemetery of al-Nasim, located south of the walled area of the oasis of Tayma, revealed further evidence of early 2nd millennium BC occupation at the site. In addition to characteristic circular graves with pottery findings (Red Burnished Ware/RBW), bronze weapons, such as fenestrated axes and a spear head, indicate close connections between North West Arabia and Syria/the Levant, thus confirming the regional significance of Tayma already during the Middle Bronze Age

Tayma, Saudi-Arabien: Bauwerkserhaltung

In the frame of the multidisciplinary project at Tayma, significant architectural remains have been systematically treated by conservators based on the concept for conservation and restoration developed by the expedition. A large representative building which was in use from the Nabataean period to Late Antiquity as well as a residential building, both in the centre of the site, are currently under conservation. For the consolidation of walls, a modified mud mortar based exclusively on locally available materials has been used