The Ebla Final Siege: Archaeological and Anthropological Evidences from the Defensive Urban System

The Western Fort is located on the defensive rampart of Ebla and it was destroyed at the end of the Middle Bronze Age, during the fi nal siege of the town, as testifi ed by thick layers of burnt debris and collapsed walls which cover the architectural structures. In front of the entrance to the main bastion of the Fort two well-preserved burnt skeletons were found lying over the fl oor. They are a sound proof of the battle which marked the last days of Ebla. The fi rst results of the anthropological analysis of this meaningful evidence will be presented together with the archaeological description of the primary context. The skeletons belong to two male adults 30-35 and 40-45 years old. The diagnosis of sex was based on the morph-anatomical characteristics of cranium and pelvis and the degree of obliteration of the cranial sutures and dental pattern indicated the age at death. Pathologies and muscular skeletal markers are examined in order to reconstruct the health and the activities carried out by the individuals. Samples of organic burnt materials stuck to the bones were subjected to electron micro-analysis energy dispersion (EDS) and to a new scientifi c methodological approach for estimate the temperature of the combustion.