Contributions of the postdoctoral seminar “The archaeological archives of the Ancient Near East: analytical approaches and new perspectives”
The postdoctoral seminar of the Jaussen & Savignac Programme, “Archaeological Archives of the Ancient Near East: Analytical Approaches and New Perspectives,” organized by Hugo Naccaro, was held at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne from 28 January to 18 March 2026. Comprising seven sessions, it provided new insights into the archaeological archives of several major sites in the Ancient Near East.
After an introduction laying the epistemological foundations for the study of this specific type of material (Hugo Naccaro), the case study devoted to Khorsabad (Iraq) (Barbara Couturaux and Jean-Jacques Herr) highlighted the importance of working with archival documentation within new excavation programmes. The systematic work carried out on the archives of the earliest excavations at Khorsabad, dating back to the 19th century, resonates with research conducted on the archaeological archives of Susa (Iran) (Clélia Paladre). These archives reflect excavation techniques and data recording methods that are radically different from those used today. Their study makes it possible to uncover new information and to offer a renewed perspective on long-overlooked results. The scientific importance of archaeological archives, whose practices have evolved considerably over time, was also demonstrated by work carried out on the site of Mari (Syria) (Pascal Butterlin), which represents nearly 90 years of excavations and multiple research cycles devoted to this ancient Mesopotamian capital. The question of the publication of these archives and the methodologies employed was then addressed through case studies at Lagash (Iraq) (Steve Renette) and Tureng Tepe (Iran) (Camille Abric & Julie Bessenay-Prolonge). These studies show that refined analytical methodologies can yield significant results and underline the need to publish long-unexplored archival collections. Finally, from an interdisciplinary perspective, and in light of the scientific and heritage challenges posed by these archives, the integration of new processing and analytical methods—particularly the use of artificial intelligence—opens up significant new perspectives (Hugo Naccaro & Thomas Gerald).
The seminar thus provided an overview of the major research issues related to archaeological archives, which are of great importance to archaeological and heritage communities. It brought together a diverse audience of students, researchers, academics, and engineers. Its success, as well as the many questions it raised, highlight the value of repeating this seminar in the future.