METHOD

This catalogue is alphabetically ordered; it consists of brief descriptions of sites and photographs (by which also slides are meant), followed by a selection of photos.

In the site accounts, for each site (1) name(s); (2) approximate location (see figure 1); (3) chronology (see table 1 and 2), and (4) a short description are provided. The names and numbers are according to the catalogue by Tani'ichi and Matsutani (1981), but, when available, ancient names and other names are also mentioned. It is also indicated if the name proper is commonly preceded by tell, tepe or telul. By necessity, the descriptions are brief, serving to provide a very general outline only. Due to availability of information, some descriptions are more extensive than others. Given the huge amount of publications on the various sites, a lengthy bibliography was not feasible. Most of the sites in the catalogue are mentioned in the extensive bibliographies of Al Haik (1968, 1971) and Ellis (1972). In the catalogue of Tani'ichi and Matsutani (1981, pages III and IV), the sites have been linked to these bibliographies. Some of the most useful general publications with regard to the archaeology of Iraq that have been used for contextual information in this catalogue are listed in the Key References.

The photographs in this catalogue mainly represent (1) views of sites in their surrounding landscape; (2) close-up views of sites; (3) standing architecture; (4) excavated structures and excavations. A total of 38 sites are represented by 92 photos on 49 plates. On the plates, each photo is designated by a reference number, and between brackets a photo/negative number, followed by the photographer (Fuk. = Fukai; Mat. = Matsutani; Say. = Sayegusa; Son. = Sono). Brief descriptions and dates of the photographs are added below the site accounts. As already indicated, there is a huge amount of pictures; of each site a selection of one to maximum eight photos has been made. All sites, with their code names, have been listed in table 1. In order to make this catalogue and the catalogue of Tani'ichi and Matsutani (1981) comparable, I have largely followed the latter publication with regard to names, periods and dates (tables 1 and 2). Unfortunately, in many cases there exists no detailed information about the exact place, time, subject matter, etc. of the photos. Therefore a number of descriptions of the pictures are very general only.

The chronology (table 2) is quite general, too, serving as a relative comparative framework. In order to make the dates comparable to the earlier work, and in fact most of the dates available for Iraqi sites, dates are uncalibrated. I have made a few adjustments to the earlier chronological framework of Tani'ichi and Matsutani (but, of course, period numbers have remained the same). First, I have included 'stages': Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Protoliterate, and what I have termed 'Early Historic' and 'Late Historic'. Second, in a few instances, I have adjusted dates on the basis of currently used chronological frameworks (Matthews, 2000; Postgate, 1992; Pollock, 1999). Third, on the basis of recent research the Halaf period has been attributed to the Neolithic period (instead of the Chalcolithic).