Travels and Researches in Chaldaea and Susiana
With an Account of Excavations at Warka, the ‘Erech' of Nimrod, and Shúsh, ‘Shushan the Palace' of Esther, in 1849–52

Two works, published 1857–9, describing Loftus's discoveries in a region significant for its biblical history, but previously unexplored by Europeans.

William Kennett Loftus (Author)

9781108077453, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 6 November 2014

536 pages, 38 b/w illus. 3 maps
21.6 x 14 x 3 cm, 0.67 kg

This book contains two works by William Kennett Loftus (1821–58) in which he describes his archaeological surveying and excavations in Mesopotamia between 1849 and 1855. An enthusiastic antiquarian and geologist, Loftus was appointed to the staff of the Turco-Persian Frontier Commission. On his travels, he located many ruins later identified as biblical cities, including Warkah (Uruk) and Tell el-Muqayyar (Ur). In 1854 Loftus was enabled by the newly formed Assyrian Excavation Fund to return to Warkah, and he excavated over a three-month period, discovering artefacts and cuneiform tablets which he sent to the British Museum. His Travels and Researches, describing his work in Mesopotamia up to 1852, was published in 1857, and his short account of his later work at Warkah in 1859, after his early death. These texts remain a record of the first discoveries in a region significant for its biblical history, but previously hardly visited by Europeans.

Preface
Part I. Chaldaea and Susiana: 1. London to Baghdad
2. Baghdad to Baylon
3. Hillah
4. View from Birs Nimrud
5. The marshes of Babylon
6. Kufa
7. Kerbella
8. Climate of Chaldaea
9. From Hillah into the desert
10. The mighty marsh
11. Diwaniyya
12. Bedouins
13. Plans and preparations for excavating on Warka
14. Winter
15. 'The land of Shinar'
16. 'Wuswas' ruin
17. New styles of decorative art
18. The absence of tombs in the mounds of Assyria
19. Bank-notes of Babylon
20. Sinkara
21. Treasures found at Tel Sifr
22. Mohammerah
23. Setting out for Susa
24. Departure from Shuster
25. The tomb of the prophet Daniel
26. Early history of Susa
27. Excavations commenced by Colonel Williams
28. The great palace of Darius at Susa
29. Hostility and reconciliation
30. A long trench
31. The 'black stone'
Chronological table
Part II. Warka.

Subject Areas: Archaeology by period / region [HDD]