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Books by Matasha Mazis

Jebel Khalid is an important archaeological site – a rare, Hellenistic military colony of the Sel... more Jebel Khalid is an important archaeological site – a rare, Hellenistic military colony of the Seleucid era. Overlooking the Euphrates river in northern Syria, the site was likely founded by Seleucus I Nicator early in the third century BC, enduring for nearly three centuries before ending with the collapse of the Seleucid Empire. This seventh and final report in the Jebel Khalid series presents the nearly 4000 metal finds recovered over almost a quarter of a century of Australian fieldwork at the site. The report includes catalogues, illustrations, and commentaries. Chronological and sequencing details from previous reports are synthesized in order to frame the narrative and cultural significance of the metals during the site’s major periods of activity. Evidence from several metalworking spaces in the temple and palace precincts confirms that workshops repaired and repurposed objects, as well as forged and cast products from stock and scrap-metal. Many objects reflect varied and complex cultural influences – there are classes of finds that represent local styles and practices, whereas others come from a Greek-Macedonian tradition; others still appear to have associations from as far afield as the western Mediterranean.

A look at the ancient technology of iron and iron-making practices. This work compares the status... more A look at the ancient technology of iron and iron-making practices. This work compares the status and production of iron from the Early to Late Iron Age periods in north-eastern Anatolia. It explores the use of iron and changes in use throughout the first millennium BCE from technological, symbolic and socio-economic perspectives. The book includes metallurgical research of iron objects and slag from Anatolian highland sites including Büyüktepe Höyük (Bayburt region), Sos Höyük (Erzurum region), and Urartian sites Van, Ayanis and Karagunduz (see Appendices A and B).

Papers by Matasha Mazis

Acta Archaeologica, 2023

Copper alloy wire fragments were examined using XRF, optical light microscopy and SEM-EDS. The sp... more Copper alloy wire fragments were examined using XRF, optical light microscopy and SEM-EDS. The specimens come from archaeological excavations at Jebel Khalid in Syria, dating from the 3rd century BCE (the Hellenistic period) to the Roman period. Our results show that several techniques were employed to make the wires: forging, folding, strip twisting, and possibly ‘strip drawing’. We investigated the morphologies, treatments, and fabrications attributed to making wire from copper alloys compared to more ductile materials such as gold and silver. Evidence of extensive annealing and non-uniform, sub-round profiles, and uneven and faceted surfaces represent the challenges of working with the material. There is no obvious evidence of solid wire drawing. The metalworkers used different copper alloys to make wire, some with high levels of lead (Pb). Subtle joins were observed in some samples, whereas others had evident folds and directional structures. The findings contribute new evidence to enhance our understanding of base-metal wire development in antiquity.

This study presents both the technological aspects of iron and iron-making in north-east Anatolia... more This study presents both the technological aspects of iron and iron-making in north-east Anatolia, as well as commenting on the socio-economic, political and symbolic aspects of metallurgy. In the first instance, a technical study of iron objects from two north-east Anatolian highland sites Buyuktepe Hoyuk (Bayburt) and Sos Hoyuk (Erzurum) is presented. These results are compared with the status and production of iron in the Early and Late Iron Age periods in eastern Anatolia generally. What emerges is a significant exposition of the use of iron and changes in its use throughout the first millennium BC, and strong indications that some iron-making traditions in this region were idiosyncratic when compared to the rest of the Near East. In line with more recent discussions, this study also interprets the results in terms of human behaviour. Given the seasonality of human activity in the highlands and the likelihood of comparatively small-scale production units, it was appropriate to c...

Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2018

Bronze arrowheads featuring barbs, a tang, and a nodule at the base of the head were widespread t... more Bronze arrowheads featuring barbs, a tang, and a nodule at the base of the head were widespread throughout the Mediterranean region from the 6th century b.c.e. to the end of the Hellenistic period. This article investigates a variant of the main type bearing a stamped device in the form The general arrowhead form is often called “Cretan,” and previous studies have specifically associated the stamped type with Cretan archers in the service of the Ptolemaic queen, Berenike II. By looking at the distribution and physical attributes (including through X-ray fluorescence analysis) of the stamped arrowheads, this article provides fresh insight into the social organization of bow-armed fighting units in the Levant during the late Hellenistic period. In doing so, the authors challenge some long-held assumptions and interpretations about the arrowhead type. Relying on a mix of literary, iconographic, and archaeological evidence, the article demonstrates that the stamped arrowhead type should be associated with a body of archers involved in the campaigns of the Seleukid king Antiochos VII Sidetes (138-129 b.c.e.).

Mediterranean Archaeology, 2011

Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research , 2018

By looking at the distribution and physical attributes (including through X-ray fluorescence analysis) of the stamped arrowheads, this article provides fresh insight into the social organization of bow-armed fighting units in the Levant during the late Hellenistic period. In doing so, the authors challenge some long-held assumptions and interpretations about the arrowhead type. Relying on a mix of literary, iconographic, and archaeological evidence, the article demonstrates that the stamped arrowhead type should be associated with a body of archers involved in the campaigns of the Seleukid king Antiochos VII Sidetes (138-129 BCE).

By looking at the distribution and physical attributes (including X-ray fluorescence analysis) of the stamped arrowheads, this article provides fresh insight into the social organization of bow-armed fighting units in the Levant in the late Hellenistic period. In doing so, the authors challenge some long-held assumptions and interpretations about the arrowhead type. Relying on a mix of literary, iconographic and archaeological evidence, the article demonstrates that the stamped arrowhead type should be associated with a body of archers involved in the campaigns of the Seleukid king, Antiochos VII Sidetes (138-129 BCE).

Mediterranean Archaeology, 2000

Mediterranean Archaeology, 2005

Archaeology of the Near East: An Australian Perspective, 2001

For just over two and a half centuries (c.850-585 BCE) the highland region of northeastern Turkey... more For just over two and a half centuries (c.850-585 BCE) the highland region of northeastern Turkey, particularly the territory around Lake Van, was home to an autonomous state known as Urartu...The material characteristics of Urartian iron reflect local traditions as represented by idiosyncratic fabrication techniques. In addition, there are diverse types of iron artefacts associated with agriculture, infrastructure, military activities, ornament and ritual. This includes standardised weaponry. The paper examines the association between material characteristics and the social and geographic nature of the state.

Magazine Articles by Matasha Mazis

Cretan mercenaries were among the most endemic features of armies in the Classical and Hellenisti... more Cretan mercenaries were among the most endemic features of armies in the Classical and Hellenistic periods, serving cities and kings as far afield as Sicily in the west, and the Seleukids in the east. However, despite their prevalence, or indeed perhaps because they were so common place, the historical sources provide only a fragmentary picture of how these men operated in the field. The study of arrowheads stamped with the monogram BE is shining new light on one group of mercenary archers who appear to have fought in the army of the Seleukid king Antiochos VII Sidetes (138-129 BC).

Conference Presentations by Matasha Mazis

Australian Archaeometry: Retrospectives for the New Millennium, 6th Australasian Archaeometry Conference, 10-13 February 1997 , 1997

Northeastern Turkey is dominated by a complex landscape formed by the convergence of several moun... more Northeastern Turkey is dominated by a complex landscape formed by the convergence of several mountain series: the Pontic alps, the anti-Taurus and the western reach of the Zagros. A harsh and inhospitable territory with brief, cool summers and bleak winters, the climate of the Anatolian highlands has seemed inimical to human habitation at least since the time of Xenophon's marches. In antiquity, pockets of the highlands may well have been insular. Little doubt exists that this region, known as Armenia from Classical antiquity, was periodically isolated from the cultures of Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean. It was here that the Urartians built their fragmented kingdom atop large, rocky outcrops and among sheer cliffs. Urartu remained the nagging thorn in the Assyrian side for some centuries. Mounting a successful campaign against a weed-crop of citadels, the mountains and bad weather is not easy. From this environment, the University of Melbourne selected a number of iron objects for analytical and archaeological investigation. In the past, the general region had a reputation for iron-making among ancient writers (for example, Ammianus Marcellinus XXII, 8, 21)-a reputation that has been sadly ignored by archaeometallurgical research. Perhaps because of the lack of city-sized settlements in this region, it was passively regarded that highland iron-making, if it existed at all, would be unlikely to merit academic enquiry. The assumption, tacit or declared, has nearly always been that iron-making requires a stratified society that directly or indirectly provides a large labour force of miners, fuel gatherers, furnace builders, expert craftsmen and military and agricultural consumers. This iron-producing society has been perceived as a large, complex community covering a wide geographic area and utilizing substantial mineral and fuel resources. However, increasingly, it seems possible that small settlements in often less-than-optimal surroundings produced iron. Iron objects dating to the first millennium BC from frankly humble settlements in Northeastern Turkey have revealed that, on occasion, small societies could produce, if not innovative iron, then certainly interesting iron! Only a few iron objects from sites in the Anatolian highlands were included in analytical investigations-less than 12% of the current samples were in a suitable condition for standard metallographic and chemical procedures. Nevertheless, preliminary results revealed two decidedly clear trends which occurred throughout the approximately 800 year time-span represented by the samples: (1) most of the objects were products of direct-reduced iron; (2) the appearance of carbon in the direct-reduced iron from this region was not due to secondary carburisation. Disregarding two of the more unusual iron objects, it was found that, in general, the samples from the first half of the first millennium BC concurred with a group of principally lowto medium carbon iron, comparatively low in inclusions, with occurrences of higher carbon areas. None of these objects had been deliberately thermally treated. Most of the samples from the second half of the millennium BC were of what could be described as generally medium carbon content, again with fluctuating areas of carbon and a low level of inclusions. Once again thermal treatment is a technique which is lacking. Except for the aforementioned two samples, technologically speaking, there was not a great deal of difference between the earlier samples and the later samples. What could be superficially discerned is that the samples from the second half of the millennium tended to have a slightly higher overall carbon content than those from PAPER NO. 80