My recently published book: Cultural Interaction between Assyria and the Zagros, DLshad A. Marf, Ugarit-Verlag, Germany https://ugarit-verlag.com/products/cultural-interaction-between-assyria-and-the-zagros-aoat-455

My Youtube Channels and Archaeological researches & documentaries https://www.youtube.com/@dlshadMarf 

Khoshnawaty and its surrounding areas in the cuneiform records

(2400-548BCE)

ناوچەکانی خۆشناوەتی و دەوروبەری لەبەر ڕۆشنایی نووسینە مێخییەکاندا

Assist. Prof. Dr. DLshad Aziz Marf (dlshad.marf@univsul.edu.iq) 

Archaeology Department, College of Humanities, University of Sulaimani

           Khoshnawaty district and its surrounding area had a strategic location betwe 

en Arbail (Erbil) and Urmia basin, Khoshnawaty district covers a vast area from the 

hills north east of Arbail, to Shaqlawa, Smaquly, Hiran, Betwata, and Balisan. This 

strategic area linked the northern plain of Mesopotamia with the highlands of the 

Zagros, its mountain passes were a linkage between the mountain valleys and the 

plains of Arbail and Nineveh.

This paper deals with the Khoshnawaty district and its surrounding areas in 

the light of the cuneiform records. The author tries to deal with the context o 

f these records in three sections, the first section deals with the chronology 

of the historical events, mainly the military campaigns of the Mesopotamian 

or local Zagros kings in the cities and towns of the district. In the second sec 

tion the author deals with the ancient languages and groups of peoples in th 

e Khonawaty district including Subarian, Hurrian, Urartian, Assyrian, and the 

deported Aramaean and Philistines to this district. The third section deals wi 

th the cultural aspects such as religion, astrology, deporting deity states, wa 

ter canals, routes and paths of Khoshnawaty in the cuneiform records.

Khoshnawaty and its surrounding areas in the cuneiform records

(2400-548BCE)

Assist. Prof. Dr. DLshad Aziz Marf (dlshad.marf@univsul.edu.iq) 

Archaeology Department, College of Humanities, University of Sulaimani

           Khoshnawaty district and its surrounding area had a strategic location betwe 

en Arbail (Erbil) and Urmia basin, Khoshnawaty district covers a vast area from the 

hills north east of Arbail, to Shaqlawa, Smaquly, Hiran, Betwata, and Balisan. This 

strategic area linked the northern plain of Mesopotamia with the highlands of the 

Zagros, its mountain passes were a linkage between the mountain valleys and the 

plains of Arbail and Nineveh.

This paper deals with the Khoshnawaty district and its surrounding areas in 

the light of the cuneiform records. The author tries to deal with the context of these records in three sections, the first section deals with the chronology 

of the historical events, mainly the military campaigns of the Mesopotamian 

or local Zagros kings in the cities and towns of the district. In the second section the author deals with the ancient languages and groups of peoples in the Khonawaty district including Subarian, Hurrian, Urartian, Assyrian, and the 

deported Aramaean and Philistines to this district. The third section deals with the cultural aspects such as religion, astrology, deporting deity states, water canals, routes and paths of Khoshnawaty in the cuneiform records.

ئاستەنگەکانی وەرگێڕانی دەقە مێخییەکان بۆ سەر زمانی کوردی، توێژینەوەیەکی بڵاوکراوە لە پڕۆسیدینگی کۆنفڕانسی زانستی نێودەوڵەتی (پێگە و تێدامانی وەرگێڕانی کوردی لە وەرگێڕانی جیهانیدا). زانکۆی سۆران ٢٠٢١، لا: ١-٢٦.  

پ.ی.د. دڵشاد عه زیز مارف زاموا

به شی شوێنه وارناس-کۆلێجی زانستە مرۆڤایەتییەکان- زانكۆی سلێمانی -

Obstacles in Translating the Cuneiform Texts into Kurdish Language

    Dr.DLshad Aziz Marf, Archaeology Department, College of Humanities, University of Sulaimani

Proceedings of the International Conference at Soran University

شارستانییەت و مێژووی دێرینی دەشتی شارەزوور

لە نووسینە مێخییەکاندا

پ.ی.د.دڵشاد عزیز مارف (دڵشاد زموا)

بەشی شوێنەوار-کۆلێجی زانستە مرۆڤایەتییەکان-زانکۆی سلێمانی

پوختە:

   هەڵکەوتەی جوگرافی دەشتی شارەزوور گرنگییەکی تایبەتی پێ بەخشیوە، لەسەردەمە دێرینەکاندا ناوچەکە سەرەرێگەی پەیوەندی نێوان شارستانییەتە جیاوازەکانی میسۆپۆتامیا و زاگرۆس و ئێران بووە، بوونی رووبارەکانی زەڵم و سیروان و تانجەرۆ و سەرچنار، و دەشتێکی بە پیتی وەک دەشتی شارەزوور بووەتە هۆی ئەوەی کە بەدرێژایی سەردەمە دێرینەکان ژمارەیەک شار و ئاوەدانی لەناوچەکەدا دەربکەوێت و، چەندین نووسینی مێخی لە ناوچەکەدا دۆزراوەتەوە و لایەنە شارستانییەکانی ناوچەکە دەخەنەڕوو. لەلایەکی تریشەوە، چەندین نووسینی مێخی ناوچەجیاوازەکانی میسۆپۆتامیا و ناوچەکانی تر باس لە مێژوو و شارستانییەتی ئەم ناوچەیە دەکەن.

ئامانج لەم توێژینەوەیە خستنەڕووی ریزبەندی ڕەوڕەوەی شارستانییەت و مێژووی دێرینی شارەزوور و دەوروبەرێتی لەبەر رۆشنایی نووسینە مێخییەکاندا، توێژەر هەوڵدەدەت بە گەڕانەوە بۆ گشت تۆمارە مێخییە بەردەستەکان، لایەنە شاراوەکانی شارستانییەتی ناوچەکە دەربخات و رۆڵی شارستانییانەی خەڵکی ناوچەکە و ڕووداوە سیاسی و سەربازییەکان لە پەیوەندی لەگەڵ شارستانییەتی میسۆپۆتامیا و زاگرۆسدا دەربخات و، ریزبەندی مێژوویی شانشین و هەرێمەکانی ناوچەکە لەم توێژینەوەیەدا کۆبکاتەوە. مێژووی سەرهەڵدانی شارستانییەت و شارەکان و وێرانبوونیان و ناوی ئەو گەل و هۆزە کۆنانەی کە لە ناوچەکەدا ژیاون و لە نووسینە مێخییەکاندا تۆمارکراون بەپێی ریزبەندی مێژووییان بخاتەڕوو.

کلیلە وشە: شارەزوور، نووسینە مێخییەکان، شارستانییەت، مێژووی دێرین، شوێنەوار.

Culture and History of Shahrezur plain

in the cuneiform records

Assist. Prof. Dr. DLshad A. Marf (Zamua)

Archaeology Department, Sulaimani University

Abstract

 Sharezur (Shahrezur) plain it has a strategic location, its surrounded with several ranges of the Zagros mountains, several passes and gorges link this strategic location of the plain with the inner Zagros and the Mesopotamian plains. Moreover, the richness of the plain with the water sources, in addition of the main rivers of Sirwan, Tanjaro and Zalm, these rivers are supplying the plain along the four seasons of the year, therefore the plain known as one of the most fertile plains of the Zagros.

The archaeological discoveries in the caves of the region proves that the hunter gatherers were living in the caves at the bank of Sirwan river in around 40,000BC, also in the plain the first villages built in around 9500BC, besides, the archaeological discoveries in the last decades proves that in the plain there were many villages during the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. Down to the historical periods, one of the most ancient groups of peoples of the Zagros raised here, the Lullubies, the oldest people of Shahrezur plain and its surrounding areas were originated from the Prehistoric villages of the plain. They built their first city there, which was called Lullume, and then they built Atlila and many other cities and towns in the plain. Name of their city Lullume firstly appeared in the Ebla records in around 24th century BC. Then the Akkadian king Naramsin wagged war against the Lullubies and recorded the Victory Stele to commemorate his victory on the Lullubies and their leader Siduri/Satuni of the battle happened in one of the passes in a roughed mountain at the border of Lullubum. The Gutean king Erridu-pizir invaded Lullubum and Simurum in the region, then the Ur III kings of Sumer especially Shulgi did more than nine campaigns against Lullubum and Simurrum. After the fall of Ur III, Simurrum King Iddin-Sin attacked the Lullubies and their leader Anubanini in the area near Halaman.

Anubanini is one of the well-known Lullubian king, he expanded the territory of Lullubum to the mountain of Batir in the area of modern Sari-poli-Zuhab. He recorded a rock relief to commemorate his victory on the people of this area and their unknown king from the records. He carved the image of himself and Ishtar, with the captives and their king, besides he commemorated his triumph with inscription in Akkadian language and cuneiform script on the relief.

Culturally, there are some recorded literatures in the discovered local and Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets about this region, for instance, in the Kutha Epic there Anubanini called father of seven brothers who brought hundreds of thousands of soldiers to fight against the Akkadian army. The events of this epic related to the Lullubies and the origin of their city and their nation and their relation to specific deities. As well, the contemporary Old Babylonian tablets discovered in Bakrawa in the adjacent of Halabja give some details about the social beliefs of the people of this region in the early second millennium BC. In Tell Shamlu at the shore of Derbandikhan Lake to the west of Halabja a piece of stone Lmashtu/Pazuzu amulet discovered, in addition of the image of Lamashtu it bears some broken lines of the amulet.

The land of Lullubum was very rich in grain and barley, therefore, Ashuransirpal II built a big storage in Atlila (Dur-Ashur) for storing the crops of this region, the city not discovered yet, however it was thought its ruin may lay under Bakrawa, but now all the focuses on Yasin Tepe.

 As well some of the Lullubian cities located on the trade roads, and there were caravansaries and stations a long these commercial cities. In the light of some personal names mentioned in the discovered tablets in Bakrawa some scholars suggested that probably part of the population in Bakrawa at the beginning of the second millennium BC were Hurrians, however, this is at the moment not certain, and as we know from the historical records the area inhabited by the Lullubies.

Keywords: Sharezur plain, Culture, Archaeology, Ancient History, Lullubies.

ئاستەنگەکانی وەرگێڕانی دەقە مێخییەکان بۆ سەر زمانی کوردی، توێژینەوەیەکی بڵاوکراوە لە پڕۆسیدینگی کۆنفڕانسی زانستی نێودەوڵەتی (پێگە و تێدامانی وەرگێڕانی کوردی لە وەرگێڕانی جیهانیدا). زانکۆی سۆران ٢٠٢١، لا: ١-٢٦.  

پ.ی.د. دڵشاد عه زیز مارف زاموا

به شی شوێنه وارناسی زانكۆی سلێمانی -

/009647501111340 dlshad.marf@univsul.edu.iqdlshadazamua@gmail.com/

پوخته :

وه رگێڕان له زمانێكه وه بۆ زمانێكی تر كارێكی ئاسان نییه ، به هه مان شێوه ئه گه ر وه رگێڕان له زمانێكی

مردووه وه بۆ زمانێكی زیندوو بێت ئه وه كارێكی سه ختتره . ئه گه ر له ئێستا و داهاتوودا وه رگێڕان له

زمانێكی زیندوو بۆ زمانێكی زیندووی تر له ڕێگه ی ئامراز و ئامێره ئه لیكترۆنییه كانه وه بكرێت و

پێویستیمان به وه رگێڕ وه ك پسپۆڕی و پیشه نه مێنێت، ئه وا هه ر پێویستمان به وه رگێڕ و پسپۆڕی

وه رگێڕانی ده قه مێخییه كان و ئه و زمانه مردووه جیاوازانه ی كه ئه م ده قانه ی پێ تۆماركراون ده بێت،

ئه مه جگه له وه ی میراتێكی تۆماركراوی هه زاران ساڵه ی باپیرانی خه ڵكی ئه م ناوچه یه ن و زیاتر له سێ

هه زار ساڵ نووسینی سه ره كی خه ڵكی ئه م ناوچه یه بووه ، بێگومان وه رگێڕی ئه م ده قه كۆنانه ئاسته نگی

زۆریان له به رده مدایه ، نه ك ته نها بۆ زمانی كوردی به ڵكو بۆ هه موو زمانە زیندووه كانی جیهان، چونكه

ئه و زمانانه ی كه ئه و ده قه مێخییانه یان پێ تۆماركراون ئێستا زمانی مردوون و هیچ كه سێك له جیهاندا

پێیان نادوێت.

له م توێژینه وه یه دا جگه له خستنه ڕووی كورته باسێكی چیرۆكی وه رگێڕان و خوێندنه وه ی خه تی مێخی

و ئه و زمانه كۆنانه ، هه روه ها باس له و ئاسته نگانه ده كه ین كه له وه رگێڕان و لێكدانه وه ی ئه و ده قه

كۆنانه دا دێنه ڕێی توێژه ران، ده كرێت ده ربڕینه كان ڕێكبخرێنه وه ؟ ناوی شوێن و كه سه كان و پاشگر و

پێشگر له زمانه كۆنه كاندا چۆن بۆ توێژینه وه ی ناوه نوێیه كان سوودیان ده بێت؟ چۆن كار له سه ر

وه رگێڕان و زاراوه سازیی ئه و زمانه مردووانه بكه ین، چۆن ئه ده بیاتی كۆن وه ربگێڕین و له زمانی

كوردیدا دایانبڕێژینه وه ؟

وشە کلیللەکان: وه رگێڕان، نووسینه مێخییه كان، زمانی كوردی، زمانه مردووه كان.

Obstacles in Translating the Cuneiform Texts into Kurdish Language

Dr.DLshad A. Marf Zamua

Archaeology Department, Sulaimani University dlshadazamua@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper deals with the obstacles that faced Assyriologists in translating the ancient records from the dead languages to modern languages, in particular to Kurdish language. What are the main issues in translating, and reading the ancient texts? The issue of determinatives, the logograms, the fake texts. How the archaeological and artistic evidence can help us in translating enigmatic expressions in these ancient records? The paper supported with several examples of issues in words, names, expressions, determinatives and logograms. Also, the paper supported with charts and a data collected from the Kurdish Assyriologists and how they decode the enigmatic expressions, and what are the main obstacles in reading the cuneiform texts.

Keywords: Cuneiform texts, dead languages, translation, Kurdish language.

Kassites in Kirkuk and Garmian during 18th –1st century B.C.: A Historical anKassites in Kirkuk and Garmian during 18th –1st century B.C.: A Historical and Cultural Studyd Cultural Study

Dr.DLshad Aziz Marf Archaeology Department, University of Sulaimani

Journal of Kirkuk University Humanity Studies

2020, Volume 15, Issue ملحق بالعدد2, Pages 238-250

Abstract

Kassites in Kirkuk and Garmian during 18th –1 st century B.C.: A Historical and Cultural Study Dr.DLshad Aziz Marf Archaeology Department, University of Sulaimani This paper deals with the Kassite presence in the area of Kirkuk and Garmian district between the Lower Zab and the Sirwan/Diyala rivers, from the first mention of the Kassites in the 18th century B.C. to the last mention of them by Strabo in the 1st century B.C. In this paper we deal with both historical and archaeological records and the new discoveries in the region. In the light of these historical records and the historical evidence we conclude that the part of the Kassite homeland is in the Garmian district, especially in the mountainous area east of Kirkuk from Chemchemal citadel to the mountainous areas east of Garmian in the Qaradagh and Bamo ranges to the banks of the Sirwan/Diyala river. Previously scholars only think about the Kassite presence in the Luristani mountains in the Iranian side of the border or in the plains along the Khorasan Road, but the archaeological discoveries in Kani Masi at the bank of the Sirwan river proved the Kassite Presence there. Also the important discovery of the public building in the citadel of Chemchamal that was full with the Kassite ceramic and the inscription of the Kassite King Kurgalzu on an eye-stone proves the Kassite presence there, moreover, the Kassite cultural influence on the Lullubies and the discoveries of the Kassite ceramic gobblers in Sharezur plain, in Sulaimani at Dekon at the bank of the Serchinar river, and in Satu Qala(ancient Idu). The historical records before the Kassite state in Babylon proves the Kassite presence in Garmian and Diyala region, also during the Kassite State in Babylon, the Kassite culturally and militarily were actively having their presence in the region. During the Post-Kassite period, in the early first millennium, Shalamanesser III invaded the Kassite cities in the land of Namri between the Qaradagh ranges and the banks of the Sirwan river, he destroyed their cities at the foot of the mountain ranges, and plundered their palaces, at that time the rulers of Namri and their people were the Kassite. Sennacherib invaded the area east of Arrapha(Kirkuk), he attacked on the Kassite cities at the foot of the mountains and at the top of the mountain ranges, he destroyed and burned the tents and the pavilions of Kassite pastorals and their chieftains there, and plundered their horses, mules, donkeys, bulls, sheep and goats, and deported the people of their city and the inhabitants of the villages and tents to the other Kassite cities at the foot of the mountain, and he annexed their land and their cities to the governorate of Arrapha(Kirkuk), this means that the Kassities in 702 BC were pastorals in the mountains east of Kirkuk in Garmian. This was not changed a lot when Strabo in 1st century B.C. referred to the Kossaeans, who were mountain dwellers, and brave warrior bowmen, they had more than 13000 fighters, at that time according to Strabo they were dragging and also did not like agriculture. I have to mention that the previous studies mainly were eager to push the Kassite presence to the far east to the Iranian border, but the historical and the recently discovered archaeological discoveries in the area of Garmian and Kirkuk prove that the Kassite presence in this region was lasted for 18th centuries from their rise in history to their last mention by Strabo. 

پ.ی.د. دڵشاد عزیز مارف، 

شوێنه‌وار و ناوی شاره‌ كۆنه‌كانی ژێر شاری سلێمانی له‌به‌ر ڕۆشنایی تۆماره‌ مێخی و كلاسیكی و به‌ڵگه‌ شوێنه‌وارییه‌كاندا، گۆڤاری توێژەر، 

٢٠٢١

http://twejer.soran.edu.iq/issues/vol4-issue1/21-4-1-13

DLshad Aziz Marf, 2021, Review of * Mesopotamian Studies/Etudes mesopotamiennes 1 *

has appeared in BiOr =Bibliotheca Orientalis journal  no. LXXVII 5/6.

DÉROCHE, V., M. MASETTI-ROUAULT et C. NICOLLE (éds.) — Études mésopotamiennes. (Mesopotamian Studies, 1). Archaeopress, Oxford, 2018. (29 cm, IV, 334). ISBN 978-1-78491-941-2. ISSN 2631-3537. £ 52.00. This volume is the first of the series Études mésopotamiennes (Mesopotamian Studies, 1). Dedicated to archaeological, historical, and philological studies about Mesopotamia and some neighbouring regions, it covers a chronological span from the Stone Ages to the Medieval periods. The series is mainly organized by several French missions and funded by numbers of French institutions, and supported by the directorate of antiquities in Kurdistan-Iraq. This first volume aims to present the results of the recent archaeological field work and other research carried out in the Kurdistan region of Iraq since 2010. In this volume there are 18 peer reviewed papers, and 5 speeches, and with the introduction it counts 333 pages. The languages used are English and French, but the abstracts of all papers and speeches are translated into Kurdish and Arabic. This is of course a great help for local readers in understanding the results of the ongoing field work in their regions; unfortunately, the Arabic and Kurdish translations include many typos, and some of the names in the Arabic and Kurdish abstracts are written incorrectly. The translations are sometimes weak and something went wrong here and there with the Kurdish fonts..........................

DLshad Aziz Marf, 2021, Review of * Mesopotamian Studies/Etudes mesopotamiennes 1 *

has appeared in BiOr =Bibliotheca Orientalis journal  no. LXXVII 5/6.

• Archaeology and Heritage of Erbil

Khoshnawaty and its surrounding areas in the cuneiform records

(2400-548BCE)

ناوچەکانی خۆشناوەتی و دەوروبەری لەبەر ڕۆشنایی نووسینە میخییەکاندا

Assist. Prof. Dr. DLshad Aziz Marf (dlshad.marf@univsul.edu.iq) 

Archaeology Department, College of Humanities, University of Sulaimani

           Khoshnawaty district and its surrounding area had a strategic location betwe 

en Arbail (Erbil) and Urmia basin, Khoshnawaty district covers a vast area from the 

hills north east of Arbail, to Shaqlawa, Smaquly, Hiran, Betwata, and Balisan. This 

strategic area linked the northern plain of Mesopotamia with the highlands of the 

Zagros, its mountain passes were a linkage between the mountain valleys and the 

plains of Arbail and Nineveh.

This paper deals with the Khoshnawaty district and its surrounding areas in 

the light of the cuneiform records. The author tries to deal with the context o 

f these records in three sections, the first section deals with the chronology 

of the historical events, mainly the military campaigns of the Mesopotamian 

or local Zagros kings in the cities and towns of the district. In the second sec 

tion the author deals with the ancient languages and groups of peoples in th 

e Khonawaty district including Subarian, Hurrian, Urartian, Assyrian, and the 

deported Aramaean and Philistines to this district. The third section deals wi 

th the cultural aspects such as religion, astrology, deporting deity states, wa 

ter canals, routes and paths of Khoshnawaty in the cuneiform records.