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EXCAVATIONS AT OPERATION EDD

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EDDCAP

Aerial View of Operation EDD from the North-West, 1976

This photograph shows almost the final state of excavations at the Middle Elamite building at EDD (ca. 1100-1000 BC). Both EDD and BB33, seen here in the background, were opened to investigate magnetic anomalies discovered during the magnetometer survey conducted in 1972. At BB33 ( Qaleh Kiln ) the anomaly was caused by the presence of several pottery kilns located less than a meter below the surface. At EDD the anomaly was due to a fire that destroyed the building.

The building has a central court, (A) surrounded by a corridor (B) that gives access to a series of rooms. The balks defining the three western operations (EE45, DD45, and CC45) are present along the lower right (western) side of the excavation. The balks defining other operations to the east were all removed before this photograph was taken. The pile of earth on the left (north) is the excavation dump.

After the large courtyard building was burned the area continued to be inhabited, Several pottery kilns and later domestic buildings were found in EE39.

Bibliography — Elizabeth Carter, also Miller, Stolper, and Zeder

EDDMEgoblet EDD12tabletscopy
EDDbolts

Stone bolts, probably used as door locks

Elamite administrative texts concerned with metals, unidentified objects, animals, hides, and foodstuffs were stored in the building.

EDDblueknob EDDtile

Typical Elamite goblet like those found at Susa Iran Map and Chogha Zanbil

EDDpegonwallcopy

Faience tiles and knobs were found together in the EDD building. They were wall ornaments in storage, but destined for use in a temple or other sumptuous building. The knob with a bearded man holding something was found in a courtyard. The combination tile and knob would have been mounted on the unfired brick walls using a wooden peg, lock pin, and bitumous asphalt as shown in the diagram to the left. The hole for the lock pin can be seen on the right side of the knob above.

EDDmanknob