Paléorient, vol. 43.2, p. 165-175 © CNRS ÉDITIONS 2017 Manuscrit reçu le 10 avril 2017, accepté le 9 juin 2017 The dignity of the dead. The case of ancient Urkesh and modern Tell Mozan, Syria (2000-1600 BC)

A. Kharobi and G. Buccellati

Presentation – The ancient perception

In the archaeological record, a grave generally presents a rather unique typological characteristic, in that its purpose and function are self-declared and immediately apparent. For the most part, it can in fact be readily recognized as such during excavation; it can be safely presumed that it was intended to receive the particular person or persons that are buried in it (even in the case of a secondary burial, or in the case of subsequent manipulation of the kind discussed below); and we can further presume that it was built, and then immediately used, within a narrow and circumscribed period of time (even for multiple burials). It goes without saying that this is not universally the case, but the difference from other excavated structures is significant. The definition of a building as a temple, a palace, a private residence, a storehouse is more complex; the specificity is never as sharp; and the tenure of its use is generally protracted in time. The perception of graves by the members of the community within which they were situated was conditioned by these factors. A grave stood apart because it was immediately recognized as such and elicited the special attention of anyone who came in contact with it or even just knew about it: “ it signalled a special presence”. We can, again, safely presume that even an infant burial hidden below the floor of a house was not a discard to be forgotten, but an item with a unique dignity of its own, one that commanded both attention and memory. This article illustrates well several specific cases in Tell Mozan in Syria, that give special evidence of such reverence and respect (fig. 1).