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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, January 1928-November 1929

ARCH.2003.24, Rendition: 796247

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The image depicts a page from a publication by Harvard University's Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated November 29, 1928. The page is titled "Harvard in Iraq" and focuses on the archaeological excavations at Nuzi, a site in Iraq. The central feature of the page is a black and white architectural plan of a portion of the great building excavated at Nuzi, estimated to contain 100 rooms and measuring 116 x 68 meters. The text accompanying the plan provides detailed information about the excavations carried out by the Harvard Semitic Museum and the Fogg Art Museum, along with the American School of Oriental Research at Baghdad. The text describes the language of inscriptions, the exploration objectives, and the history of the region, including the ruins of the Guti and their connection to the Hittites. The page also mentions the publication of the site's findings and the significance of the sites for understanding early civilizations and local affairs in the region.

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This image is a photograph of an open book showing a page titled "Harvard in Iraq." The page is from a publication dated November 29, 1928, as indicated at the top. The content discusses the archaeological excavations conducted at Nuzi in Iraq by the Fogg Art Museum, the Harvard Semitic Museum, and the American School of Oriental Research at Baghdad.

Key features of the page include:

  1. Title and Date: The title "Harvard in Iraq" is at the top, followed by the date "Nov. 29, 1928."

  2. Illustration: There is a detailed architectural plan of the excavated portion of a building at Nuzi. The caption below the illustration states: "Plan of the excavated portion estimated at one-half of the great Building at Nuzi. This Part of the Building contains 100 Rooms and measures 116 x 68 meters. The great Court is a Square of 23 meters to the Side."

  3. Text: The text provides information about the excavations, mentioning Professor Edward Chiera, who led the explorers. It discusses the importance of the ruins, their historical context, and the potential for finding objects of finer quality than those already discovered. The text also mentions the Guti people and their non-Semitic origins, as well as the names found in the inscriptions from Nuzi.

  4. Layout: The page is divided into columns of text, with the illustration placed above the main body of the text. The text is well-organized and easy to read.

  5. Condition: The book appears to be old, as indicated by the yellowed pages and the binding, which looks worn and slightly damaged.

Overall, the page provides a detailed account of the archaeological work being done at Nuzi, emphasizing the historical and cultural significance of the site.

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This image shows an open, aged book or archival folder, displaying a historical document from the Harvard University - Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated November 29, 1923.

The featured article is titled “Harvard in Iraq” and details archaeological excavations conducted at Nuzi, in modern-day Iraq, by a collaborative team from the Fogg Art Museum and the Harvard Semitic Museum, with cooperation from the American School of Oriental Research at Baghdad.

The most prominent feature on the left page is a black-and-white architectural plan, titled:

Plan of the excavated portion estimated at one-half of the great Building at Nuzi. This Part of the Building contains 100 Rooms and measures 116 x 68 meters. The great Court is a Square of 23 meters to the Side.

The text beneath the plan and the article’s body provide context:

  • The region of Nuzi lies on the border of ancient Babylon and Assyria, occupied historically by the Guti people, who were likely of Hittite origin.
  • The site contains ruins from a city destroyed around 500 B.C., including mounds and a large citadel (the “great Building”).
  • The excavations, led by Professor Edward Chiera (then at Chicago University), focused on the last occupation layer (c. 500 B.C.), but also revealed earlier, deeper strata of ruins.
  • The written inscriptions found at Nuzi are Assyrian, but include a significant number of non-Assyrian words.
  • The article mentions the discovery and acquisition of important artifacts, including a bronze censer and frescoes, which were sent to the National Museum of Iraq and the Semitic Museum at Harvard.

On the right-hand page, the text continues, describing the shipment of finds back to Cambridge, the scholarly value of the inscriptions, and the broader significance of the campaign—despite its short duration.

The physical document shows signs of age: yellowed paper, slight fraying along the edges, and a slightly uneven or folded lower-right corner. It is bound or housed in what appears to be a dark cloth-covered folder or book.

Overall, this is a piece of early 20th-century archaeological reportage, documenting Harvard’s active role in Mesopotamian fieldwork and the scholarly exchange between Western institutions and the Middle East. It offers a snapshot of both the academic ambitions and the colonial-era practices of archaeology in the 1920s.

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The image shows an open book with a page displaying text and an illustration. The book is titled "Harvard University Harvard Alumni Bulletin Nov. 29, 1928." The text on the page discusses the archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Nuzi in Iraq, led by Professor Edward Chiera of the University of Chicago. The text provides details about the excavations, the artifacts discovered, and the significance of the findings. The illustration depicts a plan of the excavated portion of the great building at Nuzi, showing the layout and dimensions of the structure.

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The image shows an open book, specifically a bulletin from Harvard University, dated November 29, 1928. The book is opened to a page titled "Harvard in Iraq." The page contains a detailed illustration of a historical site, labeled as "Plan of the excavated portion estimated at one-half of the great Building at Nuzi." The illustration is a grid-like layout of rooms and corridors, with measurements provided in meters.

The text accompanying the illustration describes the excavation work carried out at Nuzi, a site in Iraq, by the Fogg Art Museum and the Harvard Semitic Museum, in collaboration with the American School of Oriental Research at Baghdad. The text provides information about the excavation process, the layout of the building, and the significance of the findings. It mentions that the building, which is estimated to be half of the total structure, contains 100 rooms and measures 116 by 68 meters. The illustration includes a scale for reference.

The text also discusses the historical context of the site, mentioning that it is located on the borders of Babylon and Assyria and was occupied by a people known as the Guti, whose origins are uncertain. The text highlights the importance of the excavation in understanding the cultural and historical context of the region.

The page also includes a brief mention of the Harvard Semitic Museum and its role in the excavation, as well as the significance of the findings for the museum's collection. The text concludes with a note about the ongoing nature of the excavation and the potential for further discoveries.

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The image depicts a page from a publication titled Harvard University Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated May 29, 1925. The page is titled "Harvard in Iraq" and features a detailed illustration and accompanying text discussing archaeological excavations at Nuzi, an ancient site in Iraq.

Visual Elements:

  1. Illustration:

    • The central feature is a plan of the excavated portion of the great building at Nuzi. The illustration is labeled as an estimated one-half scale of the structure.
    • The plan shows the layout of the building, including 100 rooms and a great court measuring 116 x 68 meters. The court is noted to be a square of 23 meters on a side.
    • The illustration is a black-and-white line drawing, depicting the architectural layout with clear room divisions and pathways.
  2. Text:

    • The text begins with a brief account of the excavations carried out by the Fogg Art Museum and the Harvard Semitic Museum, in cooperation with the American School of Oriental Research at Baghdad.
    • It discusses the historical and archaeological significance of Nuzi, located on the borders of ancient Babylon and Assyria. The site is noted for its ruins of numerous cities, including those of the Guti, whose mounds are now represented.
    • The text mentions that most of the proper names in the inscriptions from Nuzi are non-Semitic, with many being Duran-Teshub, Shar-Teshub, etc., and includes the name of the Hittite god Teshub as a second element.
    • The article references the inscriptions found at Nuzi, which are described as Assyrian with a considerable intermixture of non-Assyrian words.
    • It also discusses the explorations led by Professor Edward Chiera of Chicago University, who focused on the houses at Nuzi, believed to have been destroyed by fire around 500 B.C. The text notes that the last occupation of Nuzi may have been at an earlier level, but tentative evidence suggests that important ruins lie underneath, dating from earlier occupations.
    • The article mentions the discovery of bronze objects, including frescoes, and discusses the archaeological and cultural value of the site.
  3. Layout and Design:

    • The page is formatted in a classic, early 20th-century style, with a clean, typed layout typical of academic or institutional publications.
    • The illustration is centrally placed above the text, drawing immediate attention to the architectural plan.
    • The text is organized into paragraphs, with clear headings and subheadings to guide the reader through the content.

Contextual Details:

  • The publication is part of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, indicating its audience includes Harvard University alumni and possibly broader academic or historical interests.
  • The focus on archaeology, ancient civilizations, and academic research reflects the era's interest in uncovering and understanding ancient cultures, particularly in the Near East.

Overall, the image captures a historical moment in archaeological research, showcasing the detailed documentation and scholarly discussion of the Nuzi excavations, which were significant for understanding ancient Mesopotamian and Hittite cultures.

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The image depicts an open book with a page featuring a map of the ancient city of Nuzi in Iraq, accompanied by a brief description of the site's history and significance.

  • Book
    • The book is open to a page with a beige background.
    • The page has a black border around it.
    • The book appears to be old and worn, with yellowed pages.
  • Map
    • The map is located in the center of the page.
    • It shows the layout of the ancient city of Nuzi.
    • The map is drawn in black ink on a beige background.
    • It includes various symbols and markings that are not easily readable.
  • Description
    • Below the map, there is a brief description of the site's history and significance.
    • The text is written in black ink on the same beige background as the map.
    • It provides information about the city's location, size, and notable features.
    • The text also mentions the importance of the site for archaeologists and historians.
  • Background
    • The background of the image is a plain gray color.
    • It provides a neutral backdrop for the book and its contents.

In summary, the image shows an open book with a page featuring a map of the ancient city of Nuzi in Iraq, accompanied by a brief description of the site's history and significance. The book appears to be old and worn, with yellowed pages and a black border around the page. The map is drawn in black ink on a beige background and includes various symbols and markings that are not easily readable. The text below the map provides information about the city's location, size, and notable features, as well as its importance for archaeologists and historians.

Meta, us.meta.llama3-2-90b-instruct-v1:0

The image shows a page from an old book or journal, with the title "Harvard in Iraq" at the top. The page is yellowed and worn, with visible tears and creases.

Title and Date
The title "Harvard in Iraq" is written in bold letters at the top of the page, followed by the date "Nov. 29, 1928" in smaller text.

Map
Below the title is a map of the excavation site, which appears to be a building or structure. The map is drawn in black ink and shows various rooms and corridors.

Text
The majority of the page is filled with text, which describes the excavation process and the findings. The text is written in a formal, academic style and includes technical terms and references to other sources.

Illustrations
There are no other illustrations on the page, apart from the map.

Overall
The page appears to be a report or article about an archaeological excavation in Iraq, written by someone affiliated with Harvard University. The tone is formal and academic, suggesting that the page is from a scholarly journal or publication.

Meta, us.meta.llama4-maverick-17b-instruct-v1:0

The image depicts an open book with a page featuring a diagram and text. The book is bound in black fabric, with yellowed pages that are slightly worn and creased.

Page Content

  • The top of the page displays the title "Harvard in Iraq" in large font.
  • Below the title, a diagram shows a floor plan of a building, accompanied by a caption that reads: "Plan of the excavated portion estimated at one-half of the great Building at Nuzi. This Part of the Building contains 100 Rooms and measures 116 x 68 meters. The great Court is a Square of 23 meters to the Side."
  • The main body of the page consists of a lengthy article discussing the excavation of the site, including its history, architecture, and findings.

Additional Details

  • The page is dated "Nov. 29, 1928" at the top, indicating when the article was published.
  • The text is written in a formal, academic style, suggesting that the book is a scholarly publication or journal.
  • The overall appearance of the book and its contents suggests that it is an old, rare, or historical volume.

Meta, us.meta.llama4-scout-17b-instruct-v1:0

The image presents an open book with a page titled "Harvard in Iraq," featuring a black-and-white diagram of a building's floor plan and accompanying text. The page is yellowed, indicating age.

  • Title and Date
    • The title "Harvard in Iraq" is displayed at the top of the page.
    • Above the title, handwritten text reads "Harvard University - Harvard Alumni Bulletin" and "Nov. 29, 1928."
  • Diagram
    • A black-and-white diagram of a building's floor plan is situated below the title.
    • The diagram is labeled "Plan of the excavated portion estimated at one-half of the great Building at Nuzi."
    • The diagram shows a large building with many rooms, including a square court measuring 116 x 68 meters.
    • The building contains 100 rooms and measures 116 x 68 meters.
    • The great Court is a Square of 21 meters to the Side.
  • Text
    • The text below the diagram provides information about the excavations carried out at Nuzi in Iraq by Professor Edward Chiera of Chicago University, with the cooperation of the American School of Oriental Research at Baghdad.
    • The text describes the region where Nuzi lies, its history, and the results of the excavations.
    • The text also mentions that the largest mound at Nuzi rises about 5-2 meters above the plain and measures some 160 meters square.
    • The text notes that this was probably the citadel and contains the ruins of an immense building of uncertain dimensions.
  • Page Details
    • The page has a black cover with a textured pattern.
    • The page is yellowed, indicating age.
    • The text on the right-hand page is partially visible but not fully legible.

In summary, the image shows an open book with a page titled "Harvard in Iraq," featuring a diagram of a building's floor plan and accompanying text that describes the excavations carried out at Nuzi in Iraq. The page provides information about the history and results of the excavations, including the discovery of a large building with many rooms and a square court.