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
    • HISTORY OF ASOR
    • MISSION, BYLAWS, & STRATEGIC PLAN
    • Board of Trustees
    • COMMITTEES
    • POLICIES
    • FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
    • 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
    • 125th Anniversary Celebration
    • HONORS & AWARDS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • PAST & FUTURE ANNUAL MEETINGS
  • MEMBERSHIP
    & RESOURCES
    • INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • NEWS@ASOR
    • AFFILIATED PROJECTS
    • AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS
    • ARCHIVES
    • 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
    • News@ASOR
    • LEVANTINE CERAMICS PROJECT
  • FRIENDS
    OF ASOR
    • Webinars
    • TOURS
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • ASOR ONLINE LIBRARY
  • Donate
    • FY25 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE
    • WAYS TO DONATE
Banner Image for Ogelia Tychon Post

 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

FY25 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

ASOR ANNUAL MEETING

Getting to Know Rural Assyrians

Ofelia Tychon, 2024 Katherine Barton Platt Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient 

Photo of Ofelia Tychon on the RLIIM projec.

This spring, I got a chance to be part of the excavation team for the Rural Landscapes of Iron Age Imperial Mesopotamia (RLIIM) Project, now in its third season. The project, run by Prof. Petra Creamer of Emory University, brought together international scholars from Cambridge University, J.W. Goethe University-Frankfurt am Main, Johns Hopkins University, Montana State University, University of California, Los Angeles, University College London, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, and Utah State University, in addition to the local professionals from the Directorate General of Antiquities and Heritage of the Kurdistan Region.

Drone Photo of RLIIM Site

The RLIIM site is located near Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, which is part of the area usually referred to as the ‘Assyrian Heartland’. The Neo-Assyrian Empire expanded from its heartland to reach from the Arabian Gulf to the Mediterranean, including Egypt, between the 9th and 7th centuries BCE, and is often seen primarily as an aggressively expansionist empire, fuelled by conquests and associated booty, tributes and deportations, which has driven the sort of scholarship that is produced about Assyria.

Historically, most excavations in the Iraqi Kurdistan, where the Assyrian heartland was located, have focused on major urban sites, and particularly monumental architecture, with even urban living quarters rarely excavated. While this is slowly changing, as surveys that uncover rural sites have been and still are being undertaken, excavations of small, rural Iron Age sites continue to be extremely rare, and RLIIM is proudly one of the few. RLIIM seeks to reconstruct how Imperial Assyria impacted rural landscapes and its rural populations, particularly why this site (and others like it) existed in a relatively marginal agricultural area, which populations settled in these rural areas and how they organized, as well determining the extent (or lack thereof) of continuity between the late Assyrian and post-Assyrian periods.

During the 7-week 2024 season, the RLIIM team was able to significantly expand its three existing trenches and opened up a fourth one. Trech A, where I spent most of my time during the season, houses a large mudbrick building with a courtyard. The nature of the soil in the area means that distinguishing mudbrick is a challenge and requires great concentration from the excavators (and perfect morning light!).

Photo of Ofelia in Trenches at RLIIM

The choice to expand and open up new trenches was greatly aided by magnetometry survey results from the first two seasons. Further magnetometry surveying was accomplished this season as well. I was personally able to participate in gathering magnetometry data and get “hands-on” magnetometry survey techniques instruction.

An important part of the RLIIM project is the analysis of the faunal and archaeobotanical remains. Numerous samples were collected and sent for analysis at the end of the season, and we eagerly await the results. As with most archaeological projects, pottery processing is an integral element of the efforts. Thousands of sherds were processed on site, and the analysis thereof is helping in creating an updated late Assyrian vs post-Assyrian pottery typology, something that is particularly helpful when analysing surface survey results, which are vital in order to understand the settlement pattern change that took place after the collapse of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

Photo of Drawn Pottery

The team did not just spend their time at the site. We were able to travel to key locations in the region on our days off, including the Neo-Assyrian period Jerwan Aqueduct, Faida Canal, Khinis reliefs and Bastora Dam sites, as well as visiting the Cambridge University’s Shanidar Cave project famous for its Neanderthal remains.

Photo of Shanidar Cave

The 2024 season concluded just as the weather in Kurdistan was heating up well into the 100s, but the work continues on the analysis of the data gathered by the team. I look forward to coming back next spring armed with more knowledge acquired via this analysis.

Ofelia is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. She holds a Master’s Degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from the University of Toronto. Her research interests lie within the economic and social aspects of history and archaeology of the Near East during the first millennium BCE, particularly the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian Empires.

Twitter/X @ofeliatweets

RLIIM Project: https://rliim.weebly.com/

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!

Recent Posts

  • FOA Webinar: Ory Amitay
  • Friends of ASOR Chicago Tour 2025
  • October Webinar Challenge
  • 2025 Annual Meeting Highlights
  • Join the Committee on Growth, Innovation, and Visibility

Latest Posts from @ASORResearch

asor_research

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


Friends of ASOR gathered in Chicago for a fantasti
Friends of ASOR gathered in Chicago for a fantastic two-day adventure through some of the city’s exceptional museums. Thirty participants enjoyed exclusive, behind-the-scenes access at @isac_uchicago's special exhibition Megiddo: A City Unearthed, A Past Imagined, curated by Kiersten Neumann. Later, Morag Kersel led a walking tour of Chicago’s monuments, offering fresh perspectives on the city’s public spaces. Day two brought a visit with @artinstitutechi curators Ashley Arico and Lisa Çakmak, who shared insights into how the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine collections are curated. The trip concluded with an unforgettable afternoon at the @fieldmuseum, where Bill Parkinson treated the group to a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s world-class anthropology collections. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/FmVOgIG) in our bio.


Remember to tune in TOMORROW (Oct. 8) at 7:00pm ET
Remember to tune in TOMORROW (Oct. 8) at 7:00pm ET for our next FOA webinar: "Readers of the Lost Ark: The Ark of the Covenant from Biblical Religion to Contemporary Culture" presented by Kevin McGeough with panelists Jennie Ebeling and Bill Caraher. Register now if you haven't: https://buff.ly/1oKIpSA


ASOR is accepting applications for the 2025 Studen
ASOR is accepting applications for the 2025 Student Paper Award (pictured is Nicole Constantine, winner of the 2024 award). The award is accompanied by a $500 prize—applications and recorded paper presentations are both due by November 5. Read more about eligibility and how to apply by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/NcjivIT) in our bio.


Biblical Archaeology Review is looking for a new A
Biblical Archaeology Review is looking for a new Assistant Editor! Biblical Archaeology Review is a quarterly archaeology magazine that acts as a bridge between the academic study of archaeology and a broad general audience eager to understand the world of the Bible better. See their job announcement for more details: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/about-the-biblical-archaeology-society/employment/


The #ImageoftheWeek from this week’s ANE Today:
The #ImageoftheWeek from this week’s ANE Today: 12,000 year old rock art panel of life-sized camels discovered in the Nefed Desert, Saudi Arabia. Orthophoto with tracings digitally outlined in color. Image source: M. Guagnin et al. 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63417-y). CC By 4.0. #Archaeology #RockArt #SaudiArabia


The Ark of the Covenant is an ancient biblical art
The Ark of the Covenant is an ancient biblical artifact that is easy for people to imagine. Because its function is ambiguous, there is a rich and diverse interpretive history of the object that is as old as the Bible itself. Read more in the newest ANE Today by Kevin McGeough by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/imagining-the-ark/) in our bio.


ASOR is seeking a volunteer photographer to help c
ASOR is seeking a volunteer photographer to help capture our upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza from November 19–22, 2025, including our 125th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday evening. This is an uncompensated position, but reimbursements and hotel nights are negotiable. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/aZQB5kS) in our bio. Applications due October 15th.


Gabrielle Puckett, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fi
Gabrielle Puckett, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient, excavated at Makounta-Voules in Cyprus this summer. With a strong interest in zooarchaeology, Gabrielle shares her experience digging with views of the Mediterranean in the background. Read her report by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/2CSjLkn) in our bio.
#Fieldwork #Archaeology #Cyprus


Join Friends of ASOR on our very first archaeologi
Join Friends of ASOR on our very first archaeological tour of Cyprus! Experience exclusive, behind-the-scenes access as scholars, archaeologists, and museum curators personally guide you through a specially curated itinerary of sites and museums. The Early Bird rates are only till tomorrow, September 30. Read more about how to reserve your spot here: https://buff.ly/GHulteg
#Cyprus


The American Academy of Religion, Southeastern reg
The American Academy of Religion, Southeastern region, invites abstracts for its annual conference. With opportunity to participate in more than 20 units and 50 sessions, scholars and students of religious studies, theology, and biblical literature located in the southeast are encouraged to apply. There will be ASOR member-sponsored sessions on Field Reports and Related Scholarship, and Shifting Identities and the Archaeology of the Ancient World.
The Call for Papers deadline is October 1, 2025. Learn more at https://relse.org.


Join us for our next webinar on October 8 at 7:00p
Join us for our next webinar on October 8 at 7:00pm ET: "Readers of the Lost Ark: The Ark of the Covenant from Biblical Religion to Contemporary Culture" presented by Kevin McGeough with panelists Jennie Ebeling and Bill Caraher. Since the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Ark of the Covenant has become one of, if not the most famous biblical “artifact,” despite the fact that scholars don’t agree on what might have happened to it or if it even really existed. Introducing his new book, Readers of the Lost Ark, Kevin will discuss how the Ark has been understood in different communities, from ancient Jewish and Christian commentators, through Medieval theologians, to modern ancient aliens theorists, misguided explorers, and Indiana Jones fan communities. Register for the free webinar by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/1oKIpSA) in our bio.


ASOR is pleased to announce, with support from the
ASOR is pleased to announce, with support from the American Institute for Roman Culture, the Cyrene Conservation Initiative—a 12-month conservation and heritage education project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cyrene in eastern Libya. Developed in close collaboration with the Libyan Department of Antiquities, the Cyrene Conservation Initiative is a response to the impacts of Storm Daniel, which caused catastrophic flooding in September 2023. The project will focus on key areas of the ancient city that were particularly affected by the flood, including Valley Street and the Sanctuary of Apollo terrace, one of the most iconic districts in the city. Read more about the project by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/chi/updates/2025/09/cyrene-conservation-announcement) in our bio!
#Libya #Cyrene #Conservation


Remember to join us TOMORROW at 7:00 pm ET for our
Remember to join us TOMORROW at 7:00 pm ET for our next FOA webinar, "Visions of Antiquity: Paintings of Robert Duncanson and Sculptures of Edmonia Lewis", presented by Dr. Tasha Vorderstrasse. Click the link (https://buff.ly/2uKaM6u) in our bio to register if you haven't already! #foa #foawebinars #foatours


A 2025 ASOR Harris Grant helped launch the Craftin
A 2025 ASOR Harris Grant helped launch the Crafting Landscape Project (CraftLand) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The project's objective is to investigate the use of natural resources and the organization of ceramic production in the Chamchamal region through archaeological survey, landscape analyses, and interviews with traditional potters. Read the project report from Dr. Claire Padovani by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/BAee9K1) in our bio.
📸 C. Padovani
#Fieldwork #Iraq


The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: A
The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: A faience figurine of the Egyptian dwarf god Pataikos was recently found in Perre, Türkiye (ancient region of Commagene), in a tomb context dating to ca. 75 BCE. Image Source: https://whyrwe.com/nieuws/2025/250902-1316.htm
#Archaeology #Egyptian #Turkiye


Through the ages, the Book of Esther has been one
Through the ages, the Book of Esther has been one of the most beloved biblical books across Jewish communities. Why has it been neglected by Christians? Read the newest ANE Today by Isaac Kalimi by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/book-of-esther/) in our bio.
#Archaeology #Bible #BookofEsther


Check out our newest Early Career Scholars Resourc
Check out our newest Early Career Scholars Resource video from Bet Hucks (Heidelberg University), "Digital Publications: Issues and Solutions". This video came out of discussions as part of the Digging Up Data program. Topics covered include author's/artist's rights, review of contracts, funding publications, and marketing strategies. Click the link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PedozEl7QRA) in our bio to watch on YouTube.


Check out Near Eastern Archaeology 88.3, part two
Check out Near Eastern Archaeology 88.3, part two of the special issue on Megiddo. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/JW7hS2V) in our bio.


Friends of ASOR is pleased to announce our next we
Friends of ASOR is pleased to announce our next webinar, "Visions of Antiquity: Paintings of Robert Duncanson and Sculptures of Edmonia Lewis" presented by Dr. Tasha Vorderstrasse, is on September 24 at 7:00pm ET! In the middle of the 19th century, Robert Duncanson (1821-1872) and Edmonia Lewis (ca. 1844-1907) created their unique visions for the ancient world, its ruins, and the people who lived in it. In this lecture, Dr. Vorderstrasse will examine the way in which both artists conceptualized the ancient world through different artistic media and the historical context in which they lived, specifically against the backdrop of the Abolitionist movement, the Civil War, and the racism that both experienced in the course of their careers. Register for the free webinar by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/JdUpaud) in our bio!


Joshua Micallef, a 2025 P.E. MacAllister Fieldwork
Joshua Micallef, a 2025 P.E. MacAllister Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient, excavated at Tell Hesban in Jordan. Interested in landscape archaeology, Joshua shares what it was like to explore and excavate in the trenches of the wadi. Click the link (https://buff.ly/O1zlcdl) in our bio to read the report! 
#fieldwork #archaeology #jordan



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