College of Archaeology

The master’s thesis entitled: “Mourning in Mesopotamia in Light of Cuneiform Sources” was discussed by student Saad Muhammad Hassan from the Department of Ancient Iraqi Languages ​​today, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Dr. Bahnam Abu Al-Suf Hall.
The thesis aimed to define the concept of mourning and its behaviors in Mesopotamia, including practices, rituals, and manifestations that fall on the shoulders of the deceased’s family, as well as the periods of mourning. This allows us to understand the ideological and social dimensions associated with mourning in Mesopotamia, and to learn how the people of ancient Iraq dealt with the affliction of death. These behaviors reflected the people’s concept of the afterlife. The thesis also reached a number of conclusions, the most important of which was that the customary mourning behaviors are an indispensable matter that falls within the interests of the deceased, and upon which their comfort in the afterlife depends. At the same time, it contributes to comforting the souls of the bereaved by fulfilling the requirements of mourning, and contributes to reintegration and adaptation into society in light of the new social changes resulting from the loss of the deceased.
The discussion committee consisted of the following professors:
Prof. Dr. Yasmine Abdul Karim Muhammad Ali, College of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Chair
Prof. Dr. Khalid Ali Khattab, Tikrit University / College of Arts / Department of Archaeology, Member
Assistant Professor Dr. Nabil Khalid Sheet, College of Archaeology / Department of Ancient Iraqi Languages, Member
Prof. Dr. Othman Ghanem Muhammad, College of Archaeology / Department of Ancient Iraqi Languages, Member and Supervisor
The Deanship of the College of Archaeology wishes the supervising professor and student success.