PACEA, UMR 5199, CNRS

The study of burials provides specific informations about the ancient societies, since the human remains are the only vestiges that are directly related to biology.
This paper is the first attempt to present a part of my dissertation. The main topic of my research is the archeo-anthropological analysis of the graves found in two sites localized in the north of Syria, more precisely in the zone of “al Jazira”; a stretch of land between Tigris and Euphrates. Tell Mozan (Buccellati and Buccellati since 1980) and Tell Hamoukar (Clemens and Qintar since 1990) were occupied in both Chalcolithic and Bronze ages (5000 – 1500 BC).
We are searching to understand the burial practices by following the new methods of anthropology both in the field and in the laboratory, moreover of archeothanatology (reconstruction of the position of the skeletal remains and the taphonomy of the cadaver. 
The material includes 230 skeletons. For each skeleton, an anthropological analysis incorporating various aspects will be achieved (age estimation, sex determination, paleo-pathological profile). In addition, both the funerary architecture of every grave and the funerary objects description are associated. At the end, a taphonomical analysis aims to reconstruct the grave history since the deposit till the discovery.
In the graves containing single individual, bodies were buried in two principal different ways (pit graves or inside jars). Jars are mostly preserved for the children. Pits could be within or without associated structure. Some collective shaft graves examples were observed as well.

""The necropolis of Tell Mozan (Northeastern Syria) has delivered over 150 human skeletons, dating to the Khabur period (Middle Bronze Age 2000 – 1600 BCE).
One skeleton exhibits significant amount of pathological conditions, most predominately osteomyelitis on the right distal femur with reactive new bone growth resulting in an enlarged and deformed appearance. The skull exhibits a grooving at the coronal-sagittal suture junction, which looks like a force trauma. A large circular hole on the posterior side of the same skull was observed, mainly on the right parietal cutting the lambdoidal border of the occipital, and a portion of the left parietal after the sagittal suture. This looks like a very possible case of trephination. But no bone remodeling is present while some sides of this hole show gnawing marks caused probably by animals.
However, the presence of this procedure in the Khabur region remains undocumented, with this being the only case identified at Mozan. Further analysis showed that the presence of rodent activity is well documented in this burial, with several bones showing significant amount of surface area chewed by rodents.
This paper presents firstly, an ancient example of osteomyelitis. Then it seeks to show that the differential diagnosis by observing the lesions of the bones in an isolated way, can lead us to distinguish two major causes: pathology and taphonomy (trauma, trephination, or rodent activity). Finally, it demonstrates that contrary to what was mentioned in some ancient letters and medical texts from Mesopotamia, distancing the sick body from the healthy constituents of society was not a common funerary practice.
Keywords: Osteomyelitis – Trephination – Taphonomy – Rodents - Syria - Middle Bronze Age. ""

"L’espace funéraire de Tell Mozan situé dans la ville haute de la cité, est constitué de nombreuses structures funéraires, chacune contenant entre 5 et 9 tombes. Au total, plus de 150 sépultures ont été découvertes dans l’ensemble de la nécropole. La majorité d’entre elles sont des sépultures individuelles.

Plusieurs squelettes présentent des signes d’atteinte thermique. Ils sont visibles macroscopiquement par une décoloration marron et noire, des fractures longitudinales, et d’autres déformations typiques de phénomènes dus à la chaleur. À l'intérieur de ces tombes, des évidences de feu ont été également observées (cendres en quantité importante, charbon de bois, et os calcinés). Pour ces sépultures, nous trouvons régulièrement des structures de feu (Tannur, grands fours, et autres types de structure de feu) à leur proximité, ou parfois directement au-dessus du corps du défunt. Des études expérimentales ont montré que les ossements enterrés peuvent encore faire l'objet de modifications thermiques selon le type de sol, la durée d’exposition à la chaleur, et la distance entre la source de feu et l’os lui-même.

L’association foyer/sépulture concerne majoritairement les tombes de sujets immatures. D’après ces observations, la question du lien entre l’âge du défunt et l’utilisation du feu se pose.  L’approche bioarchaéologique permet  d'aborder plusieurs de ces cas à Tell Mozan, dans le but de montrer que l’inhumation  n’est qu’une partie du processus funéraire, et qu’également l’utilisation "d’un rituel du feu" a eu lieu, pendant ou après l’enterrement. Cette pratique apparaît fréquemment au Proche-Orient ancien, des exemples similaires sont documentés dans des sites d'Anatolie. Une explication possible provient de sources écrites hittites et hourrites qui mettent l'accent sur le caractère symbolique du foyer et la notion de la mort dans les sociétés anciennes."

Our focus is to present mortuary practices in Tell Mozan (ancient city of Urkesh, Syria). This was made possible by analyzing
biologically and archeologically a group of 29 graves (35 skeletons) found in units A15 and A16 of the Tell. These unites,
together are part of the Middle Bronze Age necropolis of the site.
Firstly, children graves seem to have special mortuary practices, not followed for adult ones (jar burial, double inhumation).
Secondly, a ritual activity related to fire was recognized; it is related to an installation of fire on or in the proximity of some
burials. This association reflects the link between the notion of death and the symbolism of fire during this period. Finally, one
skeleton exhibiting significant amount of pathological conditions was buried together with the others. This shows that contrary
to what was mentioned in some ancient letters and medical texts from Mesopotamia, distancing the sick body from the
healthy constituents of society was not a common funerary practice.
Therefore, by crossing anthropological, paleopathological, archeological and historical data we were able to reconstruct the
ancient lived world of Urkesh via the dead one. This approach can be applied to other periods or region.
Key words: graves, ritual, paleopathology, Mozan, Syria, Middle Bronze age.

The specificity of burials allows for gaining information concerning the culture of ancient populations, in particular their relation to death, and their perception of the biological status of living populations. Our focus is to bring to light children’s burials coming from the Khabur Ware period levels in Mozan, ancient Urkesh, which are dated between 2000-1600 BC. The analysis of burial practices through osteological observations has provided evidence of age-related characteristics. Indeed, the funerary treatment of the children has proven to have been different from that of the adults.

Découverte entre 1998 et 2004, la nécropole de Tell Mozan située dans la ville haute d’Urkesh, la capitale de l’empire Hittite, a délivré 156 tombes correspondant à 181 squelettes humains restées jusqu’à ce jour inédites.
L’étude archéo-anthropologique menée sur cet ensemble remarquable vise dans un premier temps à apporter un éclairage sur de nouvelles pratiques funéraires au début du IIème millénaire av. J.-C., puis dans un second temps, à présenter une vision complète des conceptions funéraires et du rapport à la mort de la société ancienne d’Urkesh.
Cette étude s’appuie d’une part, sur les données archéothanatologiques (mise en place des dépôts et analyse de l’environnement de la tombe), et d’autre part, sur les données biologiques (âge, sexe et état sanitaire des défunts).
Si la majorité des sépultures d’Urkesh entre dans les normes funéraires caractéristiques de la période et de la région, d’autres sont plus atypiques, par notamment la disposition du cadavre où la quantité d’objets associés. Par ailleurs, des structures de feu et des dépôts de restes animaux associés aux tombes semblent être liés à l’identité biologique des défunts. De surcroît, l’étude de l’organisation de l’espace funéraire met en évidence des regroupements en fonction de l’âge et du sexe des défunts. Enfin, il semblerait exister une évolution des pratiques funéraires entre les deux phases d’utilisation de la nécropole qui traduisent des changements dans l’organisation sociale durant cette transition.

meet Arwa from Syria for a conversation on her research between anthropology and archaeology. Arwa Kharobi is Post-doctoral researcher at Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) / Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium, and Scientific collaborator with the Laboratory of Anthropology, PACEA, UMR 5199, Pessac, France.
She holds a Doctorate degree in Biological Anthropology (with honours), Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France, and Master in Biological Anthropology, Palaeoanthropology and Prehistory, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France, and a  2004 Bachelor degree in Archaeology, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria.