Fortification systems in Central and Lower Mesopotamia between the 3rd and the first half of the 2nd Millennium BC. An overview

Fortifications occupy a relevant position in the analysis of urbanization phenomena. However, in the scholarship dealing with Mesopotamian urban realities, no systematic investigations have been so far produced with regards to this topic. By focusing on the archaeological record, this article proposes an overview of urban defences of the 3rd and the first half of the 2nd millennium BC in Central and Lower Mesopotamia. The evolution patterns noted in the development of city defences over time are used to provide some glimpses on the evolution of Mesopotamian town planning and the formation of urban identities.