NUZU (genitive Nuzi). — Locality in present-day ‘Irāq (today Yorgan Tepe), approximately 13 km southwest of Kerkük (ancient Arrapba), excavated from 1925 to 1931 by E. Chiera, E. A. Speiser, R. H. Pfeiffer, and R. F. S. Starr.
Twelve strata have been found; strata XII–X A: painted pottery like that of Obed II and incised pottery like that of Uruk, constructions of rammed earth; X B: constructions in unfired bricks, a transitional stratum; IX–VII: protodynastic stratum, pottery made on the wheel; VI: stratum corresponding to the earliest rulers of Lagāš (ca. 2500 B.C.); V–III, lower part: tablets and seal impressions from the period of Akkad (ca. 2350–2150 B.C.); III, upper part: period of Gutium (ca. 2150)
and Ur III (ca. 2050–1950); II B: period of Isin and Larsa (ca. 1950–1850); II A: First Babylonian dynasty (ca. 1830–1530); II–I: Hurrian period (from ca. 1500 onward).
The city thus experienced three periods of flourishing, namely in the protodynastic period, in the middle of the third millennium, during which it bore the name Gazur (VI–III), and in the Hurrian period. The first mention of N. occurs in a letter from Mari (ca. the end of the eighteenth century B.C.).
Two large public buildings were excavated: a palace and a temple (with seven strata, from bottom to top G–A). Temple G, the oldest, with a single cella, was already enlarged in the following period (F) to include two cellae. The Palace has been only partially excavated: a large central courtyard surrounded by reception halls, the ruler’s private chambers, offices, storerooms, etc.
The 4,000 cuneiform tablets (of which 3,000 came from the principal mound) constitute parts of large family archives. The language is Akkadian, but, because it was handled by Hurrian scribes, it is mixed with Hurrian vocabulary and contains Hurrian constructions (e.g., the passive in place of the active). A valuable synchronism is provided by a letter from the king of Mitanni, Šauššatar (ca. the middle of the fifteenth century), bearing his seal.
The first geographical map on clay from the third millennium B.C. was also found at N.; it shows mountains, rivers (or canals), and cities. Despite the names attached to them, identification remains highly problematic. The proper names of N. provide a very important contribution to the knowledge of Hurrian and also Indo-European roots and elements.