Article

Structural Elements of Fortifications in the Middle Assyrian Written Sources, with Focus on the Archival Texts

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Abstract

This article examines the structural elements of fortifications attested in the written sources of the Middle Assyrian period (ca. 1500-1000 BCE), with particular emphasis on archival documentation. Previous studies of Mesopotamian fortifications have focused mainly on archaeological remains and royal inscriptions, while administrative texts have rarely been considered systematically in this context. By analysing references to walls, moats, towers, and gates in both royal inscriptions and archival texts, the article highlights the different perspectives offered by these sources. Royal inscriptions present fortifications primarily as royal building projects and symbols of political authority, whereas archival documents refer to them mainly in administrative and economic contexts. In these texts, fortification elements appear in connection with labour organisation, storage facilities, and the topographical description of urban space. The evidence suggests that fortifications in Assyrian cities functioned not only as defensive structures but also as enduring elements that structured the administrative geography of the urban landscape.

Keywords: Middle Assyria, Fortifications, Archival Texts

How to Cite:

Llop, J., (2026) “Structural Elements of Fortifications in the Middle Assyrian Written Sources, with Focus on the Archival Texts”, Akkadica 147(1): 2, 3-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/akkadica.100715