PROJECT / SUPPORT / Institutions / 06-met.htm
1: G. Buccellati, November 2005

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The website of the "Met"
The website of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art
The Urkesh lion in the virtual gallery of the "Met"
     The Metropolitan Museum of Art has formally joined forces with our project to serve three primary aims.
  1. In conjunction with the Mozan/Urkesh Archaeological Project, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will assist in the development of various enterprises aimed at maximizing fruition of the site for the public. This includes the "musealization" of the archaeological site, the preparation of displays for the new Museum in Hassaka, the capital of the province where Mozan is situated, as well as assistance in planning for traveling exhibits.
  2. Members of its curatorial staff participate in the field work at Mozan as part of the MMA mission to engage in archaeological fieldwork.
  3. The expertise of the MMA curatorial staff in art historical criticism contributes to our understanding of the artifacts from the excavations and to their publication.
     In line with these commitments, the MMA has, since 2006, contributed to our excavations both through direct support and by sending members of its staff to join our work in the field. Beyond this, our collaboration has played an important role in shaping aspects of my personal vision of excavations at Mozan, especially with regard to the aspect of site presentation.

     In a letter to "The New York Times" dated December 28, 2010, the Director of the MMA, Thomas P. Campbell, points at the long tradition of the MMA's involvement in field archaeology and, referring also to Tell Mozan, points out that "The museum takes pride in its international efforts not only to analyze and preserve ancient artifacts, but also to share museological knowledge with colleagues throughout the world, especially in areas where art is most likely to be neglected and endangered. ... These efforts foster an understanding of all art and culture, and in turn encourage a more global perspective. They have long been a vital part of our mission and will continue to enrich the visitor experience in our galleries."