Archaeologists Return to Uncover Ancient Karkemish

After nearly a century, archaeolgists have finally returned to excavate and conserve the ancient remains of Karkemish (Carchemish), a monumental capital city near the northwestern edge of Mesopotamia that was mentioned in both Biblical and extra-Biblical texts. 

Here, kings and conquerors of the Mittani, Hittite, and Neo-Assyrian empires established seats of power and here, the Babylonian forces of Nebuchadnezzar II defeated the combined troops of Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt and Assyrian allies at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C.

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Satellite showing location of Karkemish in relation to other ancient cities in the area. Wikimedia Commons

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But today, its decaying remains straddle the border between Turkey and war-torn Syria, with 55 hectares of the site falling within Turkey and 35 hectares in Syria. Adjacent to the cities of Karkamis in Turkey and Jarablus in Syria, the ruins are divided into inner and outer areas by traces of massive earthen ramparts. Nicolò Marchetti of Bologna University, who leads the renewed investigations with a joint Italian-Turkish team beginning in 2011, says that, despite the city’s historical significance, only 5 percent of the site has been excavated. Previous findings have included the remains of temples, palaces, basalt statues and reliefs, and significant defensive structures. Archaeological investigations at the site began in 1878 by Consul Patrick Henderson under the auspices of the British Museum after first being identified by George Smith in 1876. Those excavations lasted until 1881 and were then picked up by D.G. Hogarth from 1911 to 1914. The excavations included well-known archaeologists Sir Leonard Woolley and T.E. (“Lawrence of Arabia”) Lawrence. After World War I, investigations were renewed in 1920 by Woolley and P.L.O. Guy, but work was then left dormant until 2011. The remains of the dig house used by Woolley and Lawrence can still be seen at the site.

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Kubaba relief in the form of a goddess – Basalt - Carchemish - Late Hittite period (8th century B.C.) – From the collection of TheMuseum of Anatolian Civilizations - photographed at The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum during a temporary exhibition. Wikimedia Commons

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Marchetti is now in his second season at the site and his goals include a long-term strategy of investigating the city’s ancient history and urban layout and conserving and restoring the site as a tourism destination and park. The Global Heritage Fund (GHF), a U.S.-based non-profit organization, will be assisting and supporting the planning for conservation and tourism development efforts, with an eye toward acquiring designation for it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The task will not be easy. As reported by Dr. Dan Thompson, GHF’s Director of Global Projects and Global Heritage Network (GHN):  ”Although the area was deemed officially cleared of mines in 2011, it remains sensitive to war and conflict, particularly given recent events in Syria.  In addition, despite Marchetti’s team’s efforts to counter the toll taken by decades of neglect on the site’s exposed features, degradation has occurred.  Finally, planning for the site must take into account the development of the two nearby cities, whose expansion could threaten Karkemish”. [1]

In addition to the continuing excavations and conservation for tourism, it is hoped that the work and development at the site will strengthen the economy of nearby poor and rural communities.

More information about this can be obtained at the Global Heritage Fund website.  A more detailed article about the recent developments at Karkemish will be published in a forthcoming feature article in Popular Archaeology Magazine. 

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[1] GHF Supports Planning at Karkemish, Important Ancient City on the Euphrates River, Heritage on the Wire, Global Heritage Fund

Cover Photo, Top Left: Kusarikku (hybrid bull-men) and ugallu (hybrid lion-men) on a Hittite relief from Carchemish. Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.  QuartierLatin1968, Wikimedia Commons

Republished with permission from Popular Archaeology