The Syrian City of Til-Barsib

Extract

TIl-BArsib. Par F. Thureau-Dangin et Maurice Dunand avec le concours de Lucien Cavro et Georges Dossin. Paris: Paul Geuthner, 1936. pp. 166 with Album of 53 plates and 5 plans. 200 francs.

This volume is a most important contribution to the archaeology of Syria. Tell-’Ahmar, which lies on the left bank of the Euphrates, 20 kilometres below Carchemish, marks the site of the ancient city of Til-Barsib. As long ago as 1908 the late Dr Hogarth had suggested the identification of this mound with Barsib, and in 1911 Dr Campbell Thompson proved the correctness of Hogarth’s surmise by copying and translating an Assyrian inscription which lay on the mound. After making preliminary soundings in 1927 a French Expedition under the auspices of the MusCe du Louvre set to work in 1929 and the excavations, involving a total of seven months’ work in all, were concluded in 1931. This volume, lavishly illustrated, describes in detail the remarkable results.