Innovation and Tradition during Iron Age I - II: Urbanism in North Syria (1200-700 BC).

Abstract

The first centuries of the Iron Age are considered as a period of social and cultural innovation in all Syria, especially in its north. The Syrian Iron-Age kingdoms have founded new cities (called royal cities, capitals or castles) which architecture was characterized by new and distinct aspects that distinguished it from the architecture in the cities and capitals of neighbouring cultures, like the cities of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Due to the complex nature of these kingdoms (multi-linguistic backgrounds) and their frequent contact with the Assyrian Empire until they were finally subjected to it at the end of the 8^th century BC. This culture was often seen as result of elements that are strange to Syria, and many of its artistic and architectural features were attributed either to the Hittite culture of Late Bronze Age or to culture of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. However, the study of the various elements of material culture (Urbanism, architecture, art and religious beliefs) of these kingdoms indicates that these kingdoms developed their own cultural characteristics and local aspects different from neighbouring cultures. It also shows the revival of several traditions that had been common in Syria since the 3^rd and 2^nd millennia BC.

The current research aims to shed light on the general characteristics of urbanism of royal cities of the early first millennium BC (from the 12^th century until the end of the 8^th century BC) in the region of North Syria (called “the Land of Hatti” in the Assyrian texts). It also aims to study the architectural styles according to which its monuments were built in order to point out the inherited local traditions and highlight the various aspects of innovation and development in the material culture of these kingdoms.