Neo-Assyrian Sculptures from Saddikanni (Tell Ajaja)

An important discovery of two large Neo-Assyrian sculptures was made in 1982 at Tell Ajaja on the Khabur River: a lamassu with the inscribed name of Mus?zib Ninurta, and a winged bull. Mus?zib-Ninurta is known as the governor of the city of Saddikanni in 820 B.C., and he is certainly the same as the individual mentioned on the lamassu of Tell Ajaja. Preliminary excavations undertaken at the site in 1982 have confirmed that the two sculptures were in situ at the entrance to a room in a monumental building.