Mme Costanza Coppini

Curriculum Vitae (format texte)

Coppini Costanza, born in Prato (Italy), 23/10/1978. Nationality: Italian. Website: https://fuberlin.academia.edu/CostanzaCoppini. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0511-9599

Résumé: The beginning of my university studies corresponded with my first excavation experience in the Near East (Syria), when I first approached ceramic studies and research. After having completed my Master Degree at Firenze University with a thesis on unpublished material from the site of Tell Barri (Syria), I started my postgraduate studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, where I accomplished my PhD in 2014 on the topics of chronological issues and settlement of pottery sequences between the Middle and Late Bronze Age in northern Mesopotamia (supervisor: Dominik Bonatz). With D. Bonatz as project director I worked on the Late Bronze Age pottery from Tell Fekheriye. Besides my specialization on pottery (numerous collaborations with international projects in Syria and Iraq), I have worked on the preservation of cultural heritage (Yazidi: Udine University and World Monuments Fund), on settlement patterns in the 2^nd millennium BCE, on consumption and commensality in the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Through my commitment in the international scientific community, I have co-organized conferences (Broadening Horizon 5 and 6) and workshops on multiple topics (religion, chronology of the 2^nd millennium BCE). My collaborations in studying unpublished ceramics and their context of provenance have provided me with the opportunities to publish papers and present the results of my research at international conferences.

EDUCATION

03/2008-12/2014: Doctoral Degree (Doctor of Philosophy). Thesis title: „The ‘Dark Age’ of Northern Mesopotamia. Continuity and Change during the Transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age“. Supervisors: Univ.-Prof. Dr Dominik Bonatz (Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Freie Universität Berlin; Univ.-Prof. Dr Peter Pfälzner (Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen). Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Department of History and Cultural Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.

10/1997-04/2006: Master’s degree (Masters of Art). Thesis title: “La ceramica comune mitannica: il caso di Tell Barri/Kahat e la sua distribuzione in Giazira”. Supervisors: Prof. Paolo Emilio Pecorella, Prof. Stefania Mazzoni (Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Antichitá G. Pasquali, Università degli Studi di Firenze); Prof. Franca Pecchioli-Daddi (Dipartimento di Studi Storici e Geografici, Università degli Studi di Firenze). Department of Humanities, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy.

CURRENT POSITION

07/2024 – 06/2025: Research fellow, project “The Assyrian Empire and its prodromes. Settlement patterns, stratigraphic sequences and material culture between the Middle Bronze and the Iron Age in Northern Iraq Transtigridian plains”, Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage Studies, Università degli Studi di Udine.

PREVIOUS RESEARCH POSITIONS

01/2023-10/2023, 01/2024-06/2024: Research fellow, Exploration-project "Synchronwelten: Synchronizations and Synchronicities as Historical and Archaeological Practice", Einstein Center “Chronoi”, Freie Universität Berlin.

08-11/2022: Research fellow, project “Wine for the Empire. Grape cultivation and wine production in the Zagros foothills in northern Iraq” (Gerda Henkel Foundation), Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage Studies, Università degli Studi di Udine.

07-08/2022: Research fellow, project “(A)Synchronicity and dynamics of resilience, crisis collapse in the Ancient Near East”, Einstein Center “Chronoi”, Freie Universität Berlin.

09/2018-08/2020: Research fellow, project “The Middle and Late Bronze Age Settlement and Ceramic Production at Tell Bari and Tell Bazi„ (White-Levy Grant for Archaeological Publications), Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Freie Universität Berlin.

09/2017-08/2018: Research fellow, project “Let's give the Yezidi a future!” (Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia), Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage Studies, Università degli Studi di Udine.

11/2015-12/2016; 02/2014-04/2015: Research Assistant, project “Archaeological Research at Tell Fekheriye (Syria)” (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Freie Universität Berlin.

11/2011 – 12/2013: Research contractor, “Archaeological Research at Tell Fekheriye (Syria)” (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Freie Universität Berlin.

11/2002-03/2004: Student Assistant, Project “Italiana Archaeological Mission in Tell Barri (Syria)”, Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Antichitá 'G. Pasquali', Università degli Studi di Firenze.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE WORK EXPERIENCE

11/2023 : Archaeologist (pottery specialist), project « Revitaliser la valorisation du patrimoine archéologique de l’Irak », UMR 8068 TEMPS), CNRS, Paris, France.

02-03/2022: Archaeologist (pottery specialist), project «Revitaliser la valorisation du patrimoine archéologique de l’Irak», Archaios, Paris.

11/2021: Archaeologist (pottery specialist), project « Revitaliser la valorisation du patrimoine archéologique de l’Irak », UMR 8068 TEMPS), CNRS, Paris, France.

09/2020-09/2021: Scientific consultant, World Monuments Fund, New York.

07/2019-04/2020; 01-06/2017: Technical illustrator, Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.

05-07/2006: Archaeologist, Prehistory Museum ‘P. Graziosi’, Università degli Studi di Firenze.

12/2002-08/2006: Archaeologist, Comune di Peccioli (Pisa), Italy.

TRENCH SUPERVISION IN EXCAVATIONS

08/2014 - ongoing: Field direction, Wine Production Area (Tell Khinis), Direction of excavation trenches in the sites of Tell Gomel and Faida. Duhok, Kurdistan Regional Government (Land of Nineveh Archaeological Project, Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy).

04/2017 - ongoing: Co-direction of excavation trenches, Qala Shila. Koya, Kurdistan Regional Government (Archaeological Survey of Koya, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany).

08-10/2010: Direction of excavation trench, Ras el-'Ain, Syria (Archaeological Research at Tell Fekheriye, Syria, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany).

08-10/2007: Direction of excavation trench, Tell Bazi, Syria (Tell Bazi Excavation Research Project, Syria, Ludwig-Maximilian Universität, Munich, Germany).

08/2000 - 10/2010: Direction of excavation trench, Tell Barri, Syria (Italian Archaeological Mission in Tell Barri, Syria, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Italy).

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

07-08/2022; 01-10/2023; 01-06/2024: Fellowship Einstein Center “Chronoi”, Einstein Foundation, Berlin,

04/2019: ERG Förderung Veranstaltung, Ernst-Reuter-Gesellschaft, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.

05/2018: IAA Fund for Recent PhDs for RAI Attendance, International Association for Assyriology.

09/2017-08/2018: Fellowship Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage Studies, Università degli Studi di Udine, Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy.

08/2017-08/2020: Shelby White and Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publications, Leon Levy Foundation and Getty Foundation, New York/Los Angeles.

06/2016: Dahlem Junior Host Program, Dahlem Humanities Center, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

10/2015-02/2016: Guest-lecturer, seminar and training for MA and BA students. Seminar title: “Die Keramik in der materiellen Kultur Mesopotamiens. Nutzung und Veränderung(en) anhand der Perioden und der Fundkontexten”, Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. 32 hours.

04-09/2014; 10/2014-03/2015; 04-09/2015: Training for MA and BA students. Course title: “ Ausgrabungen in Tell Fekheriye”, Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. 84 hours in total.

ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

05/2024: Co-organizer, Workshop “The Assyrian ‘Dark Age’: continuity and changes between the Middle and the Neo-Assyrian period in the light of new research”, 13th ICAANE, Københavns Universiteit, Denmark.

08/2021: Co-organizer, Workshop “Change, Order, Remembrance: Crisis and Religion in the Ancient Near East”, Università di Pisa, Italy.

04/2021: Co-organizer, Workshop “Pottery Traditions and Material Culture in 2nd Millennium BC Northern Mesopotamia: Contacts and New Horizons in the Land between the Tigris and the Zagros”, 12th ICAANE, Università di Bologna, Italy.

06/2019: Co-organizer, International Congress “Broadening Horizons 6. Bridging the gap: disciplines, times and spaces in dialogue”, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. Proceedings published.

04/2018: Co-organizer, Workshop “Dark Ages”? Identifying Markers of Transition in Mesopotamia and the Near East on a Diachronic Scale”, 11th ICAANE, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany. Proceedings published.

06/2017: Co-organizer, International Congress “Broadening Horizons 5. Cultures in contact”, Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy. Proceedings published.

MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITIONS EXPERIENCE

05/2007: Management of objects. Exhibition “Egeo, Cipro, Siria e Mesopotamia: dal collezionismo allo scavo archeologico. In onore di Paolo Emilio Pecorella”, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Firenze, Italy.

08/2006: Management of objects, setting-up of the exhibition. Exhibition “Paolo Emilio Pecorella and Tell Barri”, Damascus National Museum, Syria.

07 and 05/2005; 03/2003: Setting-up of the exhibition. Exhibition “Il vino in Etruria”, “Gli Etruschi e la scrittura. Un mistero svelato”, “Peccioli e gli Etruschi”, Museo Civico Archeologico, Peccioli, Pisa, Italy.

04/2004: Setting-up of the museum. Opening of the Museo Civico Archeologico, Peccioli, Museo Civico Archeologico, Peccioli, Pisa, Italy.

MAJOR COLLABORATIONS

Land of Nineveh Archaeological Project (director: Daniele Morandi Bonacossi), Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy. Main activities and responsibilities: Field direction, Wine Production Area (Tell Khinis); Direction of excavation trenches at Tell Gomel and Faida; Analysis and study of pottery from Tell Gomel, the Wine Production Area (Tell Khinis) and from the survey; Training of BA and MA students.

Archaeological Survey of Koya (director: Cinzia Pappi), Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. Main activities and responsibilities: Co-direction of excavation trenches, Qala Shila; Analysis and study of pottery from Qala Shila and from the survey.

French Mission in Larsa (Tell es-Senkereh) and Tell el 'Uwaili, Iraq (director: Régis Vallet), CNRS, France. Main activities and responsibilities: Analysis and study of pottery from the excavation and from the intensive survey.

Rescue Archaeology Project in the Rania Plain (director: Jesper Eidem), Università di Pisa, Italy. Main activities and responsibilities: Analysis and study of pottery from the excavation.

Archaeological Research at Tell Fekheriye (Syria) (director: Dominik Bonatz), Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. Main activities and responsibilities: Direction of excavation trench; Management of the project pottery archive (photos, drawings, processing data); Processing and cataloguing of ceramic assemblages from Area C; Training of BA and MA students.

Tell Bazi Excavation Research Project, Syria (director: Adelheid Otto), Ludwig-Maximilian Universität, Munich, Germany. Main activities and responsibilities: Direction of an excavation trench.

Italian Archaeological Mission in Tell Barri (Syria) (director until 2005: Paolo Emilio Pecorella, Università degli Studi di Firenze; director from 2006: Raffaella Pierobon Benoit, Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Italy. Main activities and responsibilities: Direction of excavation trench; Management records for bones, lithics and small finds; Management of the project pottery archive (photos, drawings, processing data); Processing and cataloguing of ceramic assemblages; Training of BA and MA students.

INVITED LECTURES

15/12/2022: “Wine for the King: New Discoveries on Winemaking at Assyrian Khanusa (Khinis)”, International workshop “Ten Years of Joint Archaeological Research of the Udine University and the Duhok Directorate of Antiquities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq”, Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy.

23-24/10/2022: “The Second Millennium BCE on the Rania Plain and Beyond”, “Living at the Margins of Mittanian State”, “Gir-e Gomel and the Transtigridian Plains in the Second Millennium BC: Middle and Late Bronze Age Settlement Patterns and Stratigraphic Sequences”, International colloquium “Second Millennium in Iraqi Kurdistan: New Results, New Perspectives”, French Institute of the Near East (Ifpo) and the General Directorate of Antiquities (GDA), Kurdistan Regional Government.

18/05/2022: “The ceramic sequence from Shemshara: a preliminary assessment”, International workshop “Pisa in Mesopotamia”, Università di Pisa, Italy.

22/10/2021: “Latest News from The Eastern Front”, International colloquium “Second Archaeological Study Day Archaeological Research In Iraqi Kurdistan”, French Institute of the Near East (Ifpo) and the General Directorate of Antiquities (GDA), Kurdistan Regional Government.

19/11/2019: “Diamo un futuro agli Yazidi! Protezione e documentazione del patrimonio culturale yazida in Iraq”, Final conference of the international cooperation project “Let's give Yezidi a future!”, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Italy.

23/05//2019: “Survivors from the mountain: the Yazidi community of northern Iraq between destruction and reconstruction”, Seminar “Public and Cultural Diplomacy”, Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences, Università degli Studi di Siena, Italy.

23-24/01//2019: “Shaping a rural hinterland in the land behind Nineveh during the Bronze and Iron Ages”, “Results of the Kurdish-Italian Gir-e Gomel Archaeological Project: field season 2017-2018”, International workshop “Archaeological Landscapes of Mesopotamia between Prehistory and the Islamic Period”, Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy.

18-20/05/2017: “Settling the Land: settlements pattern and ceramics in the Land behind Nineveh from the Middle Bronze Age to the establishment of the Middle Assyrian state”, International conference “Assyrian Landscapes Research Group International Conference: Current Research in Assyrian Landscapes”, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.

14-16/01/2015: “The Mittani and Middle-Assyrian ceramic assemblages and their socio-economic context in Tell Fekheriye/Syria”, International workshop “Late Bronze Age Ceramic Identities”, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy.

06-07/05/2012: “Tell Bazi: the Pottery from the Nordhang”, International workshop “From Pottery to Chronology: The Middle Euphrates Region in Late Bronze Age Syria“, Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.

02/2011; 03/2009; 01/2008: “La ceramica del Bronzo Tardo I dai nuovi scavi sulla pendice settentrionale”, “Tell Barri 2008: Operation 18”, “Tell Barri 2007: la ceramica proveniente dall’area P”, Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Italy.

07/2008: “The Dark Age of Northern Mesopotamia. Continuity and Change during the Transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age. A case-study: Tell Barri”, Lecture in the frame of the “Archäologisches Colloquium des Institutes für Vorderasiatische Archäologie”, Ludwig-Maximilian Universität, Munich, Germany.

11/2005: “La ceramica mitannica di Tell Barri/Kahat”, Conference “Tell Barri: storia di un insediamento tra Oriente e Occidente”, Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Italy.

MEMBERSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

2023 – ongoing: member, ARWA The International Association for Archaeological Research in Western & Central Asia, Belgium.

2017 – 2022: member, American Society of Overseas Research, United States of America.

2017 – ongoing: member, International Association of Assyriology, Netherlands.

2015 – ongoing: member, British Institute for the Study of Iraq, United Kingdom.

2008 – ongoing: member, Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft, Germany.

Modern languages

Italian: Mother tongue; English: Speak, read, and write with advanced competency; German: Speak, read, and write with advanced competency; French: Read with basic competency; Spanish: Read with basic competency; Arabic: Speak with basic competency.

Ancient languages

Latin: Read and comprehension with advanced competency; Greek: Read and comprehension with advanced competency; Akkadian: Comprehension with basic competency; Sumerian: Comprehension with basic competency; Hittite: Comprehension with basic competency; Egyptian hieroglyphics: Read and comprehension with basic competency.

PUBLICATIONS

Monographs

2024 The Late Bronze Age Ceramic Sequence at Tell Fekheriye (Syria), Tell Fekheriye Excavation Reports 2, De Gruyter: Berlin. ISBN 9783111075303.

Edited books

2022 Coppini C., Cyrus G., Golestaneh H. (eds), Bridging the Gap: Disciplines, Times, and Space in Dialogue - Volume 3. Sessions 4 and 6 from the Conference Broadening Horizons 6 (Berlin, June 14-18 2019) (Access Archaeology). Archaeopress: Oxford. ISBN 978-1-80327-340-2.

Pierobon Benoit R., Coppini C., Palermo R., Pappalardo R. (eds), Exploring ‘Dark Ages’. Archaeological Markers of Transition in the Near East from the Bronze Age to the Early Islamic Period (Studia Chaburensia 10). Harrassowitz: Wiesbaden. ISBN 978-3-447-11755-5.

2020 Coppini C., Simi F. (eds), Interactions and New Directions in Near Eastern Archaeology. Proceedings of Broadening Horizons 5 International Conference “Cultures in Contact” (West & East Monografie 4). UTET: Trieste. ISBN: 978-88-5511-155-3.

Journal articles

2024 Weidemann S., Coppini C., Eidem J., “The 2008 Survey at Qala’at Halwanji (NW Syria)”, Mesopotamia LVIII, pp.1-38. ISSN: 0076-6615.

2022 Eidem J., Coppini C., “A Third Millennium Stone Plaque from Gird Maiwizha (Rania Plain, Iraqi Kurdistan)”, Ash-Sharq 4/2020, pp. 239–252.

2018 Morandi Bonacossi D., Qasim H.A., Coppini C., Gavagnin K., Girotto E., Iamoni M., Tonghini C., “The Italian-Kurdish Excavations at Gir-e Gomel in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Preliminary Report on the 2017 and 2018 field seasons”, Mesopotamia LIII, pp. 67-162

2008 Coppini C., “La ceramica mitannica di Tell Barri”, La Parola del Passato LXIII/2008, pp. 245-260. ISBN: 00312355-358-359.

Chapters in books

2022 Coppini C., “Fragments of power. The use of pottery and the reconnaissance of the presence of the Middle Assyrian state in the archaeological record”, in M. Pallavidini, L. Portuese (eds), Near Eastern Weltanschauungen in Contact and in Contrast: Rethinking the Terms Ideology and Propaganda (wEdge 2). Zaphon: Münster, pp. 387-402. ISBN 978-3-96327-186-1.

Coppini C., “Yezidi Cultural Heritage in the Sinjar Region: An Assessment”, in P. Kreyenbroek, K. Omarkhali (eds), Yezidism: Between Continuity and Transformation (Iranica 29). Harrassowitz: Wiesbaden, pp. 135-147. ISBN: 978-3-447-11800-2.

Coppini C., “Problems of Transitions in the Second Millennium BC Northern Mesopotamia: a View from Tell Barri (Northeastern Syria)”, in R. Pierobon Benoit, C. Coppini, R. Palermo, R. Pappalardo (eds), Exploring ‘Dark Ages’. Archaeological Markers of Transition in the Near East from the Bronze Age to the Early Islamic Period (Studia Chaburensia 10). Harrassowitz: Berlin, pp. 15-32. ISBN 978-3-447-11755-5.

2020 Coppini C., “Il patrimonio culturale yazida nella regione di Sinjar: gli edifici religiosi tra distruzione e ricostruzione”, in G.M. Apuzzo, S. Tesi, S. Pellizzoni, T. Agostini (eds), Diamo un futuro agli Yazidi: interventi di cooperazione e nuove prospettive. UTET: Trieste, pp. 59-70. ISBN: 978-88-5511-155-3.

2015 Coppini C., “Capitolo 10. Il regno di Mittani”, in D. Nadali, A. Polacco (a cura di), La terra tra i due fiumi: manuale di archeologia della Mesopotamia antica (Manuali Universitari). Carocci: Roma, pp. 270-288. ISBN 978-88-430-7783-0.

2012 Coppini C., “Mitanni nel suo territorio centrale: un excursus archeologico”, in S. Mazzoni (a cura di), Studi di Archeologia del Vicino Oriente. Scritti degli allievi fiorentini per Paolo Emilio Pecorella. FUP: Firenze, pp. 127-146. ISBN: 9788866551454.

Papers in conference proceedings

2020 Coppini C., “Settling the land: settlements pattern and ceramics in the land behind Nineveh from the Middle Bronze Age to the establishment of the Middle Assyrian State”, in C. Coppini, F. Simi (eds.), Interactions and New Directions in Near Eastern Archaeology. Proceedings of Broadening Horizons 5 International Conference “Cultures in Contact” (West & East Monografie 4), Trieste, pp. 93-109. ISBN 978-88-5511-048-8.

2018 Coppini C., “Tall Bazi: the Nordhang”, in A. Otto (ed.), From Pottery to Chronology: the Middle Euphrates Region in Late Bronze Age Syria, Proceedings of an International Workshop in Mainz (Germany) (Münchener Abhandlungen zum Alten Orient, Band 1). PeWe Verlag: Gladbeck, pp. 177-194. ISBN: 978-3-935012-29-4.

Coppini C., “The Land of Nineveh Archaeological Project: preliminary results from the analysis of the Second Millennium BC pottery”, in R.A. Salisbury, F. Höflmayer, T. Bürge (eds.), Proceedings of the 10th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Volume 2: Prehistoric and Historical Landscapes & Settlement Patterns, Economy and Society, Excavation Reports and Summaries. Harrassowitz: Wiesbaden, pp. 65-82. ISBN 978-3-447-10997-0.

2014 D'Agostino A., Coppini C., ”Life at the edge of the settlement: the MBA-LBA transition at the northern and southern slope of Tell Barri (NE Syria)”, in P. Bielinski, M. Gawlikowski, R. Koliński, D. Ławecka, A. Sołtysiak, Z. Wygnańska (eds.), Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Warsaw, 30 April-4 May 2012, University of Warsaw Vol. 1. Harrassowitz: Wiesbaden, pp. 385-410. ISBN 978-3-447-10132-5.

2012 Coppini C., “Changes and Evolutions of Khabur Ware during the Middle and Late Bronze Age: the Case of Drinking Vessels”, in R. Matthews, J. Curtis (eds), Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. London, 12-16 April 201, the British Museum and UCL, London, Vol. 3. Harrassowitz: Wiesbaden, pp. 465-472. ISBN: 978-3-447-06686-0.

2008 Coppini C., “Mitannian Pottery from Tell Barri (Syria): the Common Ware Assemblage”, in J.M. Cordoba, M. Molist, M.A. Pérez, I. Rubio, S. Martìnez (eds), 5 ICAANE. 5th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Madrid 3-8 April 2006, Vol. I. UAM Ediciones: Madrid, pp. 477-492. ISBN: 978-84-8344-141-1.