Excavating the ancient state of Lagash. The new evidence from Tell Zurghul/Nigin

In 2015, the Italian Archaeological Expedition to Nigin started the exploration of Tell Zurghul concentrating on two main areas (Area A and B) and operating a survey of the north-western sector of the city (Area C). The present communication presents the results of the operations carried out at Nigin focusing on the new evidence of the phases of occupation of the city from the 5th to the 4th millennium BC that provide additional information on the historical and archaeological development of the ancient region of Lagash. Actually, in light of the recent discoveries at Tell Zurghul, this paper also intends to point to the future trajectories of the archaeological exploration of both the city of Nigin and the other major urban centers of the region (Lagash and Girsu) and the neighboring landscape (existence of smaller settlements, morphology of the landscape, presence of water sources): the resumption of new archaeological explorations in the ancient city-state of Lagash can explain the phenomena of formation of urbanism and the management of landscape and environment.