The Baghdad Urban Archaeological Project: A Preliminary Report on the First Two Seasons (2022-2023) of Archaeological Research at the Old Babylonian Site of Tell Muhammad (Baghdad)

This paper presents the preliminary results of the Baghdad Urban Archaeological Project (BUAP), an Italian archaeological mission conducted by the University of Catania under the auspices of the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage at Tell Muhammad. Tell Muhammad is a mounded site located in the southern suburbs of Baghdad, about two kilometres east of the Tigris River. Previous research of the 19th and 20th centuries revealed a continuous stratigraphic sequence dated to the Old Babylonian period (ca. 1900-1600 BCE), characterised by a settlement with craft production, domestic, and sacred areas. Archaeological findings, together with cuneiform tablets, also revealed cultural and political connections of the site with both Ešnunna to the north and Babylon to the south. To further highlight the role of Tell Muhammad at a local and regional scale, BUAP resumed archaeological work at the site in 2022, which continued in 2023. The results of our work not only confirm previous chronological assessments but also significantly contribute to our understanding of Mesopotamian urban life, particularly in the areas of water management and ritual activities.