Last Week in Pleiades (9-16 January 2023)

Ruin of unknown type where cuneiform tablets are said to have been discovered in modern Iraq.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors: Tom Elliott

Medieval castle of the town Adilcevaz on the shore of Lake Van where Urartian inscriptions have been found. Not to be confused with Kef Kalesi which is located further north and outside of Adilcevaz.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors:

The northern portion of the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is known today as Upper Mesopotamia. The area, extending from the mountains of eastern Anatolia in the north to the Tharthar Depression (northwest of Baghdad) in the south, is an alluvial plain that formed an important crossroads region in the ancient and medieval periods. Major settlements of the region in antiquity include Aššur, Hatra, Nineveh, and Edessa.
Creators: Gabriel Mckee
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker

Bronze age building located within the civil airport of Amman.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors:

Location on a slope south-east of the citadel of ‘Ammān (modern Jordan) where cuneiform texts were discovered.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors: Tom Elliott

Find spot for fragmentary stele with Urartian inscription.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors:

The remains of a Romano-British settlement at Grandford, Cambridgeshire, were identified by aerial photography. The site lies northwest of the modern town of March and likely lay along the Roman road conventionally known as the Fen Causeway that began at the Roman fort of Longthorpe. The site's extent may have been on the order of 40 acres.
Creators: Jeffrey Becker
Contributors:

Lake in the southwestern Konya Plain.
Creators: Gabriel Mckee
Contributors:

Site for the city of Pikasi dating back to the Old Babylonian period. A large number of cuneiform tablets were discovered there during excavations around year 2000.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors:

Site for Urartian rock inscription.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors:

Archaeological site in the marches of Dhi Qar where Iraqi excavations have revealed secular and religious buildings belonging to the First Sealand Dynasty 1740–1374 BCE including a number of objects bearing cuneiform inscriptions.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker

Two mounds from Parthian and Sassanian periods where Old Babylonian bricks have been found.
Creators: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Contributors:

A major Late Bronze Age city in the Amuq River Valley, inhabited during the Second Millennium BCE until about the 12th century BCE.
Creators: Rune Rattenborg
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Gabriel Mckee; Jeffrey Becker
Modifications: created CIGS location of Tall al-‘Aṭšānah
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

Aliler Castle is the modern Turkish name of an Urartian fortress situated near the village of Karaağaç, approx. 11 km southeast of Lake Van. Here, the remains of a column base with a fragmentary preserved Urartian inscription of the Urartian king Minua (9th / 8th century BCE) have been found.
Creators: Birgit Christiansen
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg; Tom Elliott
Modifications: summary; created CIGS location of Aliler; created name "Aliler"
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

A settlement with occupation from the Chalcolithic period (fourth millennium B.C.) until the Phrygian period (first millennium B.C.).
Creators: Jeffrey Becker
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Rune Rattenborg
Modifications: created CIGS location of Alişar Hüyük; created name "Alişar Hüyük"
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

A Urartian settlement on a hill overlooking the Euphrates River
Creators: M. Roaf; S.E. Kroll; St J. Simpson; T. Sinclair
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Francis Deblauwe; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: created name "Altıntepe"
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

A new capital for Egypt founded by Akhenaten during his reign as pharaoh during Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty.
Creators: Iris Fernandez
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott
Modifications: created CIGS location of Al-‘Amārnah; created name "Al-‘Amārnah"
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 89 C3 Ammodios/Amouda
Creators: M. Roaf; S.E. Kroll; St J. Simpson; T. Sinclair
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: created CIGS location of Tall ʻĀmūdā; created name "Tall ʻĀmūdā"
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 74 unlocated Aphthis
Creators: A. Bernand
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; R. Talbert
Modifications: update references
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

Armaouira (Urartian Argishtikhinili) was a fortified center of ancient Urartu. The site is located close to Armavir, Armenia.
Creators: David Braund
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Johan Åhlfeldt; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; Diane Braund; R. Talbert
Modifications: created GIGS location of Armavir
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

A kingdom or federation in western Anatolia, whose exact location(s) and extent are matters of scholarly debate. The presence and nature of Arzawa is gleaned primarily from Hittite royal annals and diplomatic texts of the LBA, as well as the two letters from Amarna between Amenhotep III and the king of Arzawa. These texts, however, do not reveal the temporal span of Arzawa, and should be treated as snapshots in time. Arzawa reached its greatest prominence in the middle of the fourteenth century BCE, but had been reduced to a rump state by the end of the century. The remaining territory formed the core of the kingdom of Lydia.
Creators: Gabriel Mckee
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Müge Durusu
Modifications: edited; modified name "Arzawa" (edited)
Actors: Gabriel McKee

According to Cicero, the shrine of Chrysas (the god shares a name with the nearby river) was located along the road from Assorus to Henna. A cult image in marble, described as being "beautiful", was to be found there and was ultimately spared from the depredations of Caius Verres.
Creators: R.J.A. Wilson
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: update summary; update references; modified name "Chrysas" (change type, add reference)
Actors: Jeffrey Becker; Tom Elliott

Davti-blur is the Armenian name of an Urartian settlement situated on a natural hill near the modern village Nor-Armavir. Just like the settlement on the immediately adjacent hill Armavir which in Urartian was called Argištihinili ("city of Argišti") it was founded by Argišti I, son of Minua (8th century BCE). In Davti-Blur, a column base with an inscription of Argišti I was found which reports the construction of a building. Furthermore, several inscriptions on clay pithoi by Argišti have been found there which attest to the administrative activity at this place. A stone block of the Urartian king Sarduri II, son of Argišti I (8th century BCE) reveals that the place was further developed and extended by Sarduri II.
Creators: Birgit Christiansen
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg
Modifications: created CIGS location of Davti-Blur
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

Dur-(Kuri)galzu was founded by the Kassite ruler Kurigalzu ca. 1400 B.C. At its peak the site covered some 225 ha.
Creators: M. Roaf; St J. Simpson
Contributors: Carolin Johansson; Gabriel Mckee; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: created CIGS location of Tall ‘Aqarqūf; created name "Tall ‘Aqarqūf"
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 56 unlocated Enalos? Pr.
Creators: C. Foss; G. Reger; S. Mitchell
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; R. Talbert
Modifications: update references
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 48 unlocated Ennavia Ins.
Creators: S.L. Dyson
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; R. Talbert
Modifications: update title, place type, references
Actors: Tom Elliott

The modern Straits of Bonifacio separates the Tyrrhenian Sea from the western Mediterranean Sea. The straits measure 11 km (6.8 miles) in width.
Creators: S.L. Dyson
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; R. Talbert
Modifications: update summary & references; modified name "Taphros Fretum" (reference added); modified name "Bocche di Bonifacio" (edited); created name "Bocche di Bonifacio"
Actors: Jeffrey Becker; Tom Elliott

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 62 E5 Ghaziri
Creators: T. Drew Bear
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: created connection "Lake Eğirdir"
Actors: Gabriel McKee; Tom Elliott

The so-called House of the Vettii (VI, 15, 1) is a luxurious townhouse (domus) located in Pompeii. The house's owners in its final phase were the freedmen brothers Aulus Vettius Conviva, an Augustalis, and Aulus Vettius Restitutus. Among other features. the house is important for its Fourth Style wall paintings.
Creators: Valeria Vitale
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker
Modifications: edited
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 48 unlocated Iloua Nesos
Creators: S.L. Dyson
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; R. Talbert
Modifications: update references
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 23 G3 Masliny
Creators: David Braund
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; Diane Braund; R. Talbert
Modifications: add references; update references
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

Monte Navone rises 754 m above sea level in Sicily's Enna province. Archaeological remains of a settlement pre-dating Greek colonisation were discovered on the summit that have been correlated with the Sikel site of Hybla Erea.
Creators: R.J.A. Wilson
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Ryan Horne; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: update references
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

According to Herodotus, the island of Myekphoris is located opposite the city of Bubastis.
Creators: A. Bernand
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; R. Talbert
Modifications: summary, title, type, references
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

Numana was a settlement of ancient Picenum located south of Ancona.
Creators: W.V. Harris
Contributors: Brady Kiesling; Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: update references; modified name "Numana" (update reference)
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 48 D3 Palla
Creators: S.L. Dyson
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: update references
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 65 E1 Parlais/Col. Iulia Augusta Hadriana
Creators: C. Foss; S. Mitchell
Contributors: Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: created connection "Lake Eğirdir"
Actors: Gabriel McKee; Tom Elliott

Pegai/Antipatris/Arethousa? was a city built by Herod the Great and named for his father-in-law, Antipater.
Creators: B. Isaac
Contributors: Brady Kiesling; Carolin Johansson; Johan Åhlfeldt; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: created location "Tel Afek"; created name "Tel Afek"
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

A city of Pisidia, the site of Prostanna is located near modern Eğridir in Turkey in a saddle between the peak of Sivri Tepe and the main body of Davras Daği. Prostanna is mentioned in two literary sources (Ptolemy 5.5.7 and a listing of of bishops attending the Council of Constantinople in 381). The name is also attested in an inscription from Delos that dates ca. 113 B.C.
Creators: C. Foss; S. Mitchell
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; Liv Mariah Yarrow; R. Talbert
Modifications: created connection "Lake Eğirdir"
Actors: Gabriel McKee; Tom Elliott

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 89 C4 Shadikanni/Ar(a)ban/(H)Oraba?/*Castellum Arabum
Creators: M. Roaf; S.E. Kroll; St J. Simpson; T. Sinclair
Contributors: Claudia Horst; Carolin Johansson; Jeffrey Becker; Rune Rattenborg; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: created CIGS location of Tall ‘Ajājah; created name "Tall ‘Ajājah"
Actors: Carolin Johansson; Tom Elliott

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 8 H2 Stonea
Creators: A.S. Esmonde Cleary
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert; R. Warner
Modifications: add Potter, et al. 1981
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 39 G4 Tannetum
Creators: M. Pearce; P. Tozzi
Contributors: Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; R. Talbert
Modifications: update references
Actors: Jeffrey Becker

An ancient place, cited: BAtlas 74 F3 Thmouis
Creators: A. Bernand
Contributors: Adam Prins; Brady Kiesling; Johan Åhlfeldt; Jeffrey Becker; Sean Gillies; Tom Elliott; DARMC; Herbert Verreth; Jen Thum; Mark Depauw; R. Talbert
Modifications: add 2 x references; update references; modified name "Thmouis" (Baseline created); modified name "Tell Timai" (add language (Arabic), add reference)
Actors: Jeffrey Becker