Petra M Creamer

PETRA CREAMER, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, received a grant in October 2021 to aid research on “Rural Landscapes of Iron Age Imperial Mesopotamia.” This project delves into the dynamics of rural life during the Neo-Assyrian and post-Assyrian eras in northern Mesopotamia. Focusing on Qach Rresh, near modern-day Erbil, this study unveils insights into the transition between the Assyrian Empire and its collapse. Through extensive excavation and geophysical survey, Qach Rresh is revealed as a significant administrative center, potentially a key agricultural depot during Assyrian rule, and repurposed as a trash dump post empire. Magnetometry survey expands previous knowledge of the site, illuminating a larger, more intricate layout suggesting imperial involvement in resource collection. The season’s accomplishments include excavations in three separate areas, ceramic typology development, faunal analysis, and expanded geophysical survey. Public engagement through school visits enriches the project’s outreach. Overall, Qach Rresh emerges as a critical locus for imperial taxation and resource gathering, reshaping our understanding of the “Assyrian Heartland” and Imperial Mesopotamia’s rural dynamics. The tension between central control and local resistance illuminates the power dynamics and resilience within imperial spaces, inviting further exploration of this complex interplay.