Simona Bracc i 1
Introduction
The title of this article matches that of a post-Doctoral research project currently in its first stages. The area chosen for this project is the so-called Diyala region (in modern Iraq) named after the Diyala River, a western tributary of the Tigris River. Within the Diyala region several major and minor towns have been investigated since the nineteen‑thirties. 2
The archaeological data for the 3rd millennium come from Khafaja and Tell Asmar (and to a lesser degree from Tell Agrab); for the 2nd millennium the available data increase thanks to the excavations at Tell Harmal, Tell ed-Dhiba’i, Tell Mohammed, Tell es Sib. As a result of these archaeological investigations, a good amount of information is available to allow the examination of the use of space in areas both inside and outside the town. The latter, in particular, is the main interest of this research project. The focus on territory in this research has a two-fold meaning: on the one hand it is considered a privileged site for observing of social dynamics (usually visible in the management of suburban real estate, in land sales, etc.); on the other side the study of the landscape settings helps to underline the changes to the territory (of greatest importance for everyday life) which are interwoven with human components. This occurrence creates a strong human — landscape relationship, typical of ancient Mesopotamia. The Diyala area has been chosen because it perfectly fits a set of conditions seldom present together in Iraqi territory: – F irstly, there are many different forms of data pertaining to this area: textual, topographical, landscape; – S econdly, the important historical role played by this area. During the 3rd millennium, the Diyala region held a major trading role within Mesopotamian world. Subsequently in the 2nd millennium, this area saw the birth of the important Eshnunna kingdom which held a preeminent position within this intricate historical period; – Thirdly, territorial research needs to be supported by field exploration, which is nowadays impossible in Iraq. Diyala area was surveyed in between 1957-1958 and in 1965 by Jacobsen and above
1. University of Roma, tommythecat@ tin. it 2. The first archaeological expeditions were carried out by the Oriental Institute of Chicago and by Iraqi missions. In the following years the Hamrin area (northern sector of the Diyala river) was widely investigated. During the •80s and •90s several investigations (Iraqi and German) focused on minor sites near modern Baghdad. AA. VV 1985; Hussein, Miglus 1998; Hussein, Miglus 1999.
Landscapes evolution and organisation in rural and urban areas
Th e case of Diyala region, Iraq, Goals, problems, and research methods
