UNEARTHING THE PAST SINCE 1900
  • BECOME A MEMBER
  • RENEW
  • GIVE NOW
  • SEARCH
  • ONLINE PORTAL
  • American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)
  • ABOUT
    • WELCOME FROM ASOR OFFICERS
    • FACTS & FIGURES
    • MISSION, BYLAWS, & STRATEGIC PLAN
    • HISTORY OF ASOR
    • COMMITTEES
    • POLICIES
    • FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
    • ARCHIVES
    • AFFILIATED PROJECTS
    • AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS
    • ASOR’s Honors and Awards
    • CONTACT US
  • CULTURAL
    HERITAGE
    • ABOUT CULTURAL HERITAGE INITIATIVES
    • UPDATES
    • TUTORIALS
    • Who We Are
  • ANNUAL
    MEETING
    • REGISTRATION
    • HOTEL RESERVATIONS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULES
    • SPONSOR & EXHIBIT
    • ASOR Online Library
    • HONORS & AWARDS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • PAST & FUTURE ANNUAL MEETINGS
  • MEMBERSHIP
    & RESOURCES
    • INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • NEWS@ASOR
    • PAST ASOR NEWS, MONTH BY MONTH
    • ONLINE RESOURCES
    • PHOTO COLLECTION
    • EARLY CAREER MEMBER RESOURCES
  • FELLOWSHIPS
    & GRANTS
    • SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIELDWORK PARTICIPATION
    • GRANTS FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS
    • RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR MEMBERS
    • MEMBERSHIP & ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • ASOR-AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS FELLOWSHIPS
    • OTHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • BOOK SERIES & MONOGRAPHS
    • BULLETIN OF ASOR
    • JOURNAL OF CUNEIFORM STUDIES
    • MAARAV
    • NEAR EASTERN ARCHAEOLOGY
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • LEVANTINE CERAMICS PROJECT
  • FRIENDS
    OF ASOR
    • Webinars
    • TOURS
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • ASOR ONLINE LIBRARY
  • Donate
    • FY24 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE
    • WAYS TO DONATE

 SHARE

 
 
 
 
 

NEWS@ASOR E-NEWSLETTER

ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY E-NEWSLETTER

PAST ASOR NEWS, MONTH BY MONTH

ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS

LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

FY24 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

ASOR ANNUAL MEETING

Tell Tayinat 2024: A Season in the Shadow of an Earthquake

Rubar Yavuz, 2024 Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient

Tell Tayinat is a mound located 18 km west of Reyhanlı district in Hatay and 1.5 km east of the Orontes River. Southeastern Turkey experienced a major earthquake in 2023, which significantly impacted and damaged the Hatay province. Our excavation house was also severely damaged by the earthquake. This is why our excavation house consisted of containers and portables for the 2024 season.

Archaeology is not just about digging the soil. It is a space where human relationships are strengthened, where people come together to work towards a common research goal, and where individuals from different cultures meet. Even though this earthquake has caused major losses for people we know from the region, I still feel that we were able to reconnect, help each other while having a productive season.

The Iron Age layers have always fascinated me and have been an important focus of my thesis research. I would like to thank our excavation director for allowing me to excavate and study the Iron Age layers.

First day of excavations

The Tell Tayinat excavation site was identified in 1933 by a team from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, led by Robert J. Braidwood. In 1999, the mound was re-examined by a team led by Timothy P. Harrison, and excavation began in 2004. During these excavations, Early Bronze Age and Iron Age layers were identified.

During the 2024 season, we woke up at 4:00 a.m., and the vehicle departed at 4:30. Of course, these times shifted based on the sunrise. I was excavating a square in the Iron Age layers, following a stone pavement that had already been exposed in the 2022 season. From the moment it was uncovered, this stone layer indicated the extent of its damage. The surface soil extended to a depth of approximately 0.35 m. I was aware that I was conducting an excavation of surface soil, yet I was still careful not to miss any artifacts. Over the course of about a month, ceramic and basalt fragments were uncovered.

Iron Age Stone Pavement that has been disturbed

Our excavation used the locus-lot system, which meant we divided the area into square sections and excavated piece by piece. The main objective in the area I was working on was to follow a specific pavement. The most striking aspect for me was the artifacts located just above the floor. One seal, dated to the Assyrian period, was found directly on this stone pavement. After documenting the artifact, it was removed. Archaeology, in a sense, is about concealing all emotions, I managed to calm the excitement I felt inside though I was very happy that it was uncovered. After cleaning in the dig house it was confirmed to be an Assyrian seal with the image of a quadruped. There was some discussion of what animal it could be; many thought it was a lion, though some thought it was a type of composite animal. After this find, it was decided that expanding the excavation area further would be beneficial. While doing so, a bulla was found on this stone floor. This artifact was also dated to the Assyrian period.

End of season photo of my square

So, this floor was either built during the Assyrian period, or it predates them, with the Assyrians having walked on it. Despite the damage in the area I was excavating, this layer belonged to the Assyrians.

A gravelly layer made of hard soil and nari was encountered in the north of the area. This layer indicated that we had transitioned to a second phase. This gravelly layer extended beneath the stone floor. After documenting two stones from the stone pavement, they were removed, and a bronze armor scale was found beneath the stone floor. The Neo-Assyrian artifacts and related late Iron Age ceramics suggest that this layer was part of the Neo-Assyrian settlement in Tayinat, which was incredibly exciting to excavated and reveal.

Me while doing a section drawing

In conclusion, this season’s excavations were both enjoyable and tiring, but that is archaeology! I would like to express my gratitude to ASOR and Eric and Carol Meyers for providing this fellowship. Thanks to this fellowship, I was able to attend Tell Tayinat excavations, expand my research on the Iron Age, and make new friends.

For more information about the Tayinat Archaeological Field School visit here.

Working on a square plan

Rubar was born in 1995 in the province of Mersin. He completed his primary, secondary, and high school education in Mersin. In 2017, he enrolled in the Archaeology department at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University. He graduated with honors in 2021. He was accepted into a master’s program at the same university, where he is currently continuing his studies. He participated in 17 different excavations focused on the Iron Age. He has conducted research on burial traditions of the Iron Age and is writing his master’s thesis on these burial practices.

Want to help more students and early career archaeologists get into the field? Donate to the cause today by selecting “Fieldwork Scholarships” as your gift purpose!

BROWSE THE NEWS ARCHIVE

  • Table of Contents for Near Eastern Archaeology 88.2 (2025)
  • McKinley Tech Turns Cemeteries into a Living Classroom
  • Don’t Miss It! —ASOR’s 125th Anniversary Celebration
  • Fieldwork Report: Gabbi Graber

Latest Posts from @ASORResearch

asor_research

Initiating and supporting research of the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world.


To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: F
To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: Funerary model of cow giving birth. Probably from Meir, Egypt, c. 2040 – 1985 BCE. Royal Ontario Museum 910.18.16.1. Photo courtesy of ROM: https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/184967


What is a god? While the question is simple enough
What is a god? While the question is simple enough, the answer depends on context and perspective. Read the first article in a 4-part series by Michael Hundley in the newest Ancient Near East Today by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/god-ancient-near-east/) in our bio.


Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for
Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Festival at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Stop by the event organized by @aitc_dc from 10AM to 3PM for music, food, and fun activities!


This spring, McKinley Tech High School students ex
This spring, McKinley Tech High School students explored Black Georgetown’s legacy at Mt. Zion–Female Union Band Historic Memorial Park. Through virtual reality and archaeological research, the program encouraged students to engage with the history of Black communities and experiences in Washington, D.C. Read the story by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/mckinley-tech-mt-zion) in our bio!


ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society
ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society organizations and conservation projects as a way for them to be part of the ASOR community. Applications are reviewed by ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Committee. ASOR-affiliated projects are eligible for Shepard Urgent Action Grants. Learn how to apply for affiliation with the link in our bio.


Check out the special June issue of NEA 88.2 on on
Check out the special June issue of NEA 88.2 on one of the most famous sites in the ancient Near East—Megiddo. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/nea88.2-toc/) in our bio.


ASOR CHI was delighted to participate in this year
ASOR CHI was delighted to participate in this year’s Arab Network of Civil Society Organizations to Safeguard Cultural Heritage (ANSCH) Conference on May 28–29. ASOR spoke on the types of free resources available through ASOR for civil society organizations in the region, including tutorials for cultural heritage surveys, funding through Shepard Urgent Action Grants, and the ability to join the ASOR community as affiliates. Read more by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/chi/updates/2025/06/asor-ansch-conference) in our bio.


ASOR has turned 125—and you’re invited to join
ASOR has turned 125—and you’re invited to join the celebration by participating in a special dinner event on Saturday night at this year’s Annual Meeting in Boston!

We’ll be kicking off the festive occasion at 6:45 pm on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza. Join us for an evening of great dining, entertainment, and ASOR-themed activities, as well as speakers who have been part of ASOR’s mission. Regular dinner tickets cost $100, but to ensure that everyone can attend, we are offering discount codes for reduced ticket prices of $25 and $50. Read more and register for the event by clicking the link in our bio!


In ancient Egypt, marriage was key to establishing
In ancient Egypt, marriage was key to establishing a household. What were the expectations of wives and what do we know about women’s rights when entering into—or leaving—marriage? Read the newest ANE Today by Alison Wilkinson by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/ancient-egypt-marriage/) in our bio.


Gabbi Graber, a 2024 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scho
Gabbi Graber, a 2024 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated at Tel Burna in the Shephelah hills of Israel. Drawing from personal reflections and field experience, Gabbi shares what it was like to dig in this storied landscape. Read her fieldwork report by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/fieldwork-report-graber) in our bio.


As you embark on fieldwork and research this summe
As you embark on fieldwork and research this summer, ASOR invites you to make submissions to our Virtual Archaeology Initiative. The Virtual Archaeology Initiative is a growing collection of digital resources that illustrate or teach various steps involved in the archaeological process. Read more about the initiative by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/virtual-archaeology-initiative-submissions) in our bio. Submissions can be sent to info@asor.org.


Check out the May issue of Bulletin of ASOR 393, w
Check out the May issue of Bulletin of ASOR 393, with fascinating articles like Nabatean Tent Sites on the Ruhot Plain, Central Negev, and Nomadic Visibility; Olive Oil Production in the North-East Temple of Canaanite Lachish; Qaṭrāyīṯ and the Linguistic History of Ancient East Arabia, and much more. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/basor393-toc/) in our bio.


Friends of ASOR is pleased to share information on
Friends of ASOR is pleased to share information on BASONOVA & BAF lectures. On Tuesday, June 10 at 8pm ET via Zoom, Elizabeth Bloch-Smith (Princeton Theological Seminary) will present "Hearing the Voices of the Dead in Ancient Israel". The witch of Endor was consulted by Saul to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This presentation examines the Zeitgeist and theology behind Isaiah 8, where the deceased Samuel speaks to King Saul (1 Samuel 28), and alongside considers tales of the talking dead from Mesopotamia, Hatti (Hittites) and Greece. Register here: https://basonova.org/next-lecture-reservation.html


Dominique Langis-Barsetti, a 2024 Katherine Barton
Dominique Langis-Barsetti, a 2024 Katherine Barton Platt Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated with the Kerkenes Project in the central Anatolian plateau last spring. As an associate director on the project, Dominique encountered various situations that required her to overcome logistical and environmental challenges with quick thinking and creativity. Read her fieldwork report by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/fieldwork-report-langisbarsetti) in our bio.


ASOR invites members to submit poster proposals fo
ASOR invites members to submit poster proposals for the Poster Session as part of the 2025 ASOR Annual Meeting. Posters are an ideal format for presenting archaeological projects in general, a technical aspect of your project, or a spectacular find from the field season. Poster abstracts of 250 words may be submitted in the ASOR Abstract Center between now and August 1. Please read the Call for Posters (https://www.asor.org/am/2025/posters-2025) by clicking the link in our bio.


Once believed to be the location of Herod’s Augu
Once believed to be the location of Herod’s Augusteum, the cave at Paneas has yielded up some surprising discoveries following recent excavations. Read the newest ANE Today by Adi Erlich and Ron Lavi by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/pan-grotto-paneas/) in our bio.


Join ASOR for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Fe
Join ASOR for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Festival, organized by @aitc_dc, on Saturday, June 28 at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Stop by the event for music, food, and activities, and make sure to check out ASOR's table!


Christos Theodorou received a 2024 Meyers/Wright F
Christos Theodorou received a 2024 Meyers/Wright Fieldwork Scholarship to excavate at Kissonerga-Skalia, Cyprus. Read about his experience excavating a Bronze Age oven by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/CN3yM5h) in our bio.


Starting next Friday, May 30th, ASOR staff will be
Starting next Friday, May 30th, ASOR staff will be holding summer hours until Labor Day, September 1st. If you need to contact the office, please do so during normal business hours Monday–Thursday or before 12:30pm EDT on Fridays. We wish you all a productive and relaxing summer!


ASOR announces a general call for nominations and
ASOR announces a general call for nominations and applications for individuals to be considered for the position of Vice President. This is a three-year term of office beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending on December 31, 2028. Nominating an officer is an important way for members to participate in the governance of their organization, and we encourage you to self-nominate or nominate others. Review of applications and nominations will begin on August 15, 2025. Click the link in our bio for more details on the duties of the position and how to submit nominations.



Instagram

Stay updated with the latest insights, photos, and news by following us on Instagram!

Follow Us on Instagram

American Society of Overseas Research
The James F. Strange Center
209 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

E-mail: info@asor.org

© 2025 ASOR
All rights reserved.
Images licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Contact Us
Membership
Give
Friends of ASOR
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives
Terms of Use
News

Please follow & like us :)
Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn