The Site Conservation Project at Tell Mozan
  taking care of the past

     In Tell Mozan, we have always been aware of the importance of conservation: the idea that always led the work of the archaeologists was that conservation must be concurrent with the archaeological process, and we pursued an integrated approach, with the cooperation of both curators and archaeologists helping each other for the best interest of the structures and for the items emerging from the ground.
     The Site Conservation Project at Tell Mozan represents a coherent system which includes written observations, drawings and photographs (see e.g., the section "Conservation" of Palace AP on Urkesh website [click on the left-hand side: Palace AP > CONSERVATION]).
     Our commitment to conservation dates back to the very beginning of the excavations, and it has evolved in an increasingly systematic manner season after season. Ever since its beginning, the project has always aimed at: the protection of the archaeological remains from the atmospheric agents (particularly heat and rain), the construction of a protective structure designed to be non-invasive in respect to the stratigraphy or the general architecture, the conveying of the real perception of the original walls and an overall view of the complex in its constitutive elements, the creation of an easily removable covering system that could allow the monitoring of the state of conservation on a regular basis.
     The project took its own shape year after year, through an accurate analysis of the results gained with the different devices adopted, a continuous research for the best solutions, and the cooperation of different specialists and assistants who succeeded each other in the task.
     The observations, photos and drawings were collected at the end of each season and a report was written, that allowed the monitoring of the various activities and helped to ensure continuity when the people in charge changed: thanks to this, the Project can now be considered efficient and fully successful. Nevertheless, researches for even better solutions are always going on.

     The stone architecture at Mozan is also extensive, and while the individual components (the stones) do not deteriorate due to the weather, their joints do, and the most impressive stone walls may collapse as a result. Strong rains in the autumn and winter wash away the mud that keeps the stones of the revetment walls and the monumental staircase together, while small bushes and weeds grow in large number in spring thus affecting the overall stability of the structures.
     In this case, we proceed with two low-cost, unobtrusive yet very effective techniques.
     On the one hand, every spring we remove all the shrubs between the stone joints, while at the end of the summer we protect each individual ancient joint (which was in origin made of mud) with a stripe of burlap covered by a new layer of mud. A simple technique, which has given very good results.
     Because of the very sizable exposure that we have obtained (some 550 square meters), this work requires considerable attention and time. This we need to continue doing, as well as facing potential problems which may unexpectedly arise.
     To mention the most recent major issues that we had to face, in 2013/2014 we have devised an entirely new metal structure to cover the ābi - the subterranean building, a marker of identity for Hurrian culture made of massive stones, with a distinctive plan characterized by a circular and deep main room, which one could access only through a narrow and steep stone staircase. More recently, in 2019, we intervened on the revetment wall (in particular in the area known as J1), to ensure the stability of the structure which had been severely affected by the strong winter rains.