Excavations at Ur, 1927–8

Extract

During the winter season of 1927-8 the Joint Expedition of the British Museum and of the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania was engaged upon two distinct pieces of work; at the beginning of the season, for about nine weeks, we continued the excavation of the early cemetery discovered in the previous year, while for the rest of the time the whole gang was employed on the clearing of the interior of the great courtyard building which lies in front of the north-east face of the Ziggurat. Field work started on October 17 and continued until February 18, the average number of men on the pay-roll being 130 for the first half of the time, and 170 for the second half. This year there was no architect with the expedition, for the reason that the plan of the courtyard building had already been made out and for the digging of the cemetery the services of an architect would not be required: otherwise the staff was the same as last year, my wife being responsible for the drawings, the Rev. E. Burrows, S.J., for the inscriptional material, and Mr. M. E. L. Mallowan acting as general archaeological assistant. The extraordinary richness of the discoveries meant even harder work than usual, and it was at times difficult to keep pace with them, but by occasional shifting of the gang from the graves to the courtyard this was made possible, the respite so gained enabling us to catch up temporary arrears: but I owe it to my assistants to express my gratitude for their whole-hearted co-operation. As usual, Hamoudi of jerablus was foreman, and was invaluable; his two sons, Yahia and Ibrahim, served under him as junior foremen, and the former did all the photographic work also.