Bazhera Archaeological Project

The first season of the Bazhera Archaeological Project (BAP) marked the beginning of a long-term Joint Italian–Kurdish research programme devoted to investigating the Ottoman-period caravanserai and its surrounding settlement. The campaign focused on establishing the archaeological potential of the site and creating the methodological framework for future investigations through the integration of intensive survey, excavation, architectural analysis, topographical documentation and the study of material culture.

Fieldwork began with an intensive archaeological survey of the settlement, carried out through a systematic GIS-based grid. This activity allowed the identification of the spatial extent of the site, several archaeological features surrounding the khan and a cemetery area located north of the main building. At the same time, a detailed survey inside the caravanserai provided the first spatial distribution of ceramic materials and visible architectural features.

The principal excavation consisted of Sounding 1, opened immediately east of the khan in correspondence with a surface depression interpreted as the remains of a secondary structure. The excavation revealed a square stone-built enclosure constructed with double-faced masonry bonded with soil mortar. Stratigraphic investigation documented wall collapses, construction techniques and foundation deposits, while the recovery of Ottoman tobacco pipes provided a terminus post quem for the construction of the structure. Although its precise function remains uncertain, the excavation demonstrated that the enclosure formed part of a wider architectural complex associated with the caravanserai.

A detailed architectural study of the khan documented its construction techniques and highlighted the use of lime mortar, clearly distinguishing the main building from the surrounding structures. Topographical activities established the spatial reference system for future campaigns.

Preliminary analysis of ceramics and other artefacts confirmed that the principal occupation belongs to the Late Islamic and Ottoman periods, while the survey of the associated cemetery initiated the investigation of the site's funerary landscape. Overall, the first campaign successfully established the archaeological significance of Bazhera and provided the foundations for subsequent research aimed at reconstructing the development and function of one of the best-preserved Ottoman caravan stations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The second archaeological season focused on refining the understanding of the architectural organisation of the khan and documenting the broader settlement surrounding it. Building on the results of the previous campaign, research concentrated on the eastern side of the caravanserai, the external enclosures identified during the survey, and the continued study of archaeological materials.

The principal excavation was Sounding 2, opened along the eastern side of the khan to investigate an apparent interruption in the perimeter wall and verify the possible location of the original entrance. Excavation demonstrated that the eastern façade did not follow a regular alignment but instead included two deliberate changes in direction, indicating that the irregular plan formed part of the original architectural design rather than resulting from later destruction. Newly exposed masonry showed construction techniques identical to those documented elsewhere in the building, while mortar samples were collected for laboratory analyses aimed at evaluating the construction sequence of the monument.

Alongside excavation, a systematic architectural survey documented nine stone-built enclosures surrounding the caravanserai. Their homogeneous construction techniques, characterised by double-faced stone walls bonded with soil mortar, suggest that they belong to a coherent settlement associated with the khan, although probably representing a later phase of occupation. The contrast between the lime mortar used in the caravanserai and the soil mortar employed in the surrounding structures supports the hypothesis that these enclosures reflect the later reuse of the site, possibly for agro-pastoral purposes.

The campaign also included updated topographical documentation of the excavated areas. Processing of archaeological materials further strengthened the ceramic sequence established during the previous season, confirming the predominance of Late Islamic and Ottoman-period occupation. Research also continued in the nearby cemetery through the documentation of inscribed funerary stelae, contributing to a broader reconstruction of the settlement's historical landscape.

Overall, the 2024 campaign substantially improved the understanding of the khan's architectural layout and clarified the relationship between the caravanserai and the surrounding structures, providing a stronger basis for future investigations into the site's organisation and development.

The third season of the Bazhera Archaeological Project marked an important transition in the research strategy by initiating the archaeological investigation of the interior of the caravanserai.

The main activity consisted of opening the first excavation trench inside the khan. Previous campaigns had focused on defining the perimeter walls and documenting the surrounding settlement; the 2025 excavation therefore aimed to investigate the organisation of the internal spaces and test the hypothesis that the building originally included more than one storey. Excavation adjacent to the western wall revealed a substantial accumulation of collapse deposits and exposed a projecting masonry feature that may have functioned as a structural support for an upper floor or vaulted roof. Although the original occupation level was not reached, the results demonstrated the considerable archaeological potential preserved beneath the collapse layers and established the basis for future excavation inside the building.

The study of archaeological materials recovered from the interior confirmed the predominance of Late Islamic and Ottoman-period occupation, while also documenting residual material dating to earlier Islamic phases. Ceramic analysis continued to refine the typological sequence established during previous campaigns, whereas glass, metal objects, tobacco pipes and other finds were catalogued for future specialist study.

Research also continued in the cemetery associated with Bazhera through a more detailed documentation of funerary monuments and comparison with the cemetery of the nearby village of Bajer Jer. In addition, the project initiated the preliminary recording of traditional mudbrick architecture preserved in the modern village, expanding the investigation from the archaeological site to the surrounding historical landscape.

The 2025 campaign successfully advanced the project's long-term objectives. The excavation of the interior of the khan represents a major step towards reconstructing the original organisation and function of the caravanserai, while the continued study of archaeological materials, funerary evidence and vernacular architecture contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of Bazhera and its role within the Ottoman communication network of northern Iraq.