Insects, Arachnids, and Other Arthropods in Mesopotamian Cuneiform Sources and Archaeological Contexts: An Interdisciplinary Study
The research project investigates the role and perception of insects, arachnids, and other arthropods in ancient Mesopotamia through a detailed analysis of cuneiform texts and archaeological evidence. It examines a wide range of sources, including administrative records, letters, literary compositions, divinatory and medical texts, proverbs, and popular sayings, in conjunction with data from the excavation of Abu Tbeirah, a third-millennium BCE site near Nasiriyah, southern Iraq. By integrating philological, historical, and archaeological approaches, the project aims to uncover the significance of arthropods in Mesopotamian agricultural practices, daily life, and symbolic representations.
The main objectives are to catalog references to arthropods in cuneiform texts, correlate them with archaeological evidence from Abu Tbeirah, and offer an integrated perspective on their impact on Mesopotamian society. This includes their dual role in agriculture—as both pests and food—their cultural and symbolic relevance, and their uses in medicine and magic. Collaboration between Assyriologists and archaeologists will ensure a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the topic.
The expected outcomes will shed new light on the environmental and cultural dynamics of ancient Mesopotamia, enhancing our understanding of ecological practices and human-arthropod interactions. Furthermore, the project will establish a reference framework for future studies in Mesopotamian paleoentomology and the ancient world more broadly, emphasizing the value of combining textual and material evidence in historical research.
