Kassites in Kirkuk and Garmian during 18th –1st century B.C.: A Historical anKassites in Kirkuk and Garmian during 18th –1st century B.C.: A Historical and Cultural Studyd Cultural Study

	Kassites in Kirkuk and Garmian during 18th –1st century B.C.: A Historical anKassites in Kirkuk and Garmian during 18th –1st century B.C.: A Historical and Cultural Studyd Cultural Study
Kirkuk University Journal: Humanity Studies
Article 14, Volume 15, Issue 3, 2020, Pages 238-250 PDF (2.13 M)
Abstract
This paper deals with the Kassite presence in the area of Kirkuk and Garmian district between the Lower Zab and the Sirwan/Diyala rivers, from the first mention of the Kassites in the 18th century B.C. to the last mention of them by Strabo in the 1st century B.C. In this paper we deal with both historical and archaeological records and the new discoveries in the region. In the light of these historical records and the historical evidence we conclude that the part of the Kassite homeland is in the Garmian district, especially in the mountainous area east of Kirkuk from Chemchemal citadel to the mountainous areas east of Garmian in the Qaradagh and Bamo ranges to the banks of the Sirwan/Diyala river. Previously scholars only think about the Kassite presence in the Luristani mountains in the Iranian side of the border or in the plains along the Khorasan Road, but the archaeological discoveries in Kani Masi at the bank of the Sirwan river proved the Kassite Presence there. Also the important discovery of the public building in the citadel of Chemchamal that was full with the Kassite ceramic and the inscription of the Kassite King Kurgalzu on an eye-stone proves the Kassite presence there, moreover, the Kassite cultural influence on the Lullubies and the discoveries of the Kassite ceramic gobblers in Sharezur plain, in Sulaimani at Dekon at the bank of the Serchinar river, and in Satu Qala(ancient Idu).The historical records before the Kassite state in Babylon proves the Kassite presence in Garmian and Diyala region, also during the Kassite State in Babylon, the Kassite culturally and militarily were actively having their presence in the region. During the Post-Kassite period, in the early first millennium, Shalamanesser III invaded the Kassite cities in the land of Namri between the Qaradagh ranges and the banks of the Sirwan river, he destroyed their cities at the foot of the mountain ranges, and plundered their palaces, at that time the rulers of Namri and their people were the Kassite.Sennacherib invaded the area east of Arrapha(Kirkuk), he attacked on the Kassite cities at the foot of the mountains and at the top of the mountain ranges, he destroyed and burned the tents and the pavilions of Kassite pastorals and their chieftains there, and plundered their horses, mules, donkeys, bulls, sheep and goats, and deported the people of their city and the inhabitants of the villages and tents to the other Kassite cities at the foot of the mountain, and he annexed their land and their cities to the governorate of Arrapha(Kirkuk), this means that the Kassities in 702 BC were pastorals in the mountains east of Kirkuk in Garmian. This was not changed a lot when Strabo in 1st century B.C. referred to the Kossaeans, who were mountain dwellers, and brave warrior bowmen, they had more than 13000 fighters, at that time according to Strabo they were dragging and also did not like agriculture. I have to mention that the previous studies mainly were eager to push the Kassite presence to the far east to the Iranian border, but the historical and the recently discovered archaeological discoveries in the area of Garmian and Kirkuk prove that the Kassite presence in this region was lasted for 18th centuries from their rise in history to their last mention by Strabo.

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