Abstract

Recent archaeological research conducted by the Iraqi-Italian Archaeological Expedition at Nineveh, directed by Nicolò Marchetti on behalf of the University of Bologna and the Iraqi SBAH, has uncovered, over five campaigns, several baked-brick courtyards belonging to different buildings in the Neo-Assyrian lower town. These findings offer new insights into paving techniques and building practices. Given their superior mechanical properties, baked bricks are frequently associated with outdoor spaces, particularly courtyards.

This study examines the use of baked bricks in courtyards from Areas A, C, E Top, H, and V, considering a range of building contexts from domestic units to small palatial-type residences. Brick morphology, placement, paving techniques, and standard measurement units are analysed, with particular attention to discrepancies between architectural theory and actual practice.

The research situates this evidence within broader regional and provincial frameworks to explore similarities and differences in Neo-Assyrian technical knowledge. Drawing on approaches to craft transmission and production contexts, bricks are considered as artefacts embedded within social and professional networks. Their analysis sheds light on craft organization, material circulation, and the otherwise silent actors of construction—architects, brick-makers, and bricklayers—who played a central role in shaping the Neo-Assyrian built environment. Ultimately, the paper assesses the reliability of architectural criteria in defining cultural identity and delineating the Neo-Assyrian cultural space.