Jan Gerrit Dercksen
University Lecturer Assyriology
- Name
- Dr. J.G. Dercksen
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2912
- j.g.dercksen@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Jan Gerrit Dercksen is a University Lecturer at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies.
More information about Jan Gerrit Dercksen
Fields of interest
The history of Mesopotamia and Anatolia, especially during the early centuries of the second millennium BC, the Old Assyrian and Old Babylonian periods. Within this broad field, my particular interest is the economy of Assyria and Babylonia. The focus of my research is on the Old Assyrian period (key-word: Kültepe) and together with other scholars sharing a passion for Kültepe I form the Old Assyrian Text Project Group. I am currently engaged in preparing the publication of an archive excavated in Kültepe (Kt c/k Ali-ahum).
Since 2010, I am directing the research programme ‘Immigrant-Related Change in the Ancient Near East’, funded by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). This programme investigates the effects of migration in Mesopotamia and Anatolia during the Old Assyrian/Hittite period (post-doc Dr Willemijn Waal), the Old Babylonian period (PhD student Drs Rients de Boer), and the Neo-Assyrian period (post-doc Dr Jeanette Fincke).
CV
Education
1996: PhD in Assyriology, Leiden University
1987: Doctoral degree in Semitic Languages and Cultures (Assyriology), Leiden University
Employment
2002-present: Lecturer in Assyriology at Leiden University.
2000-2001: Post-doc researcher at University of Copenhagen (CNI).
1996-2000: post-doc researcher Leiden University.
Key publications
- Dercksen, J.G. (2004). Some elements of Old Anatolian society in Kanis. In Dercksen, J.G. (Ed.), Assyria and beyond : studies presented to Mogens Trolle Larsen. (pp. 137-177). Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Osten.
- Dercksen, J.G. (2005). Again on Old Assyrian tuzinnum. Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires, 2, pp. 39-39.
- Dercksen, J.G. (2005). Metals according to documents from Kültepe-Kanish dating to the Old Assyrian Colony Period. In Yalcun, Ü. (Ed.), Anatolian Metal III. Der Anschnitt, Beiheft 18. (pp. 17-34). Bochum: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum.
- Dercksen, J.G. (2005). Die Stadt Assur als Wirtschaftsmacht. In Meyer, J.-W. & Sommerfeld, W. (Ed.), 2000 v. Chr. Politische, wirtschaftliche und kulturelle Entwicklung im Zeichen einer Jahrtausendwende. (pp. 155-169). Saarbrücken: Saarbrücker Druckerei und Verlag.
- Dercksen, J.G. (2006). Adad is king. The Sargon text from Kültepe. Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux, 39, 107-129.
Teaching
Courses in the Akkadian language and its main dialects (Old, Middle and Neo-Assyrian and Old and Neo-Babylonian), history and economy of Mesopotamia.
- Introduction to Akkadian
- Standard Babylonian literary and historical texts
- Old Assyrian
- Middle Assyrian
- Neo-Assyrian
- Old Babylonian letters and historical and juridical texts
- History of Mesopotamia
PhD supervision
Rients de Boer, The Effects of the Amorite Migration to Mesopotamia (started 2010) (with Wilfred van Soldt)
Grants and awards
Grant from NWO Vrije Competitie Geesteswetenschappen for the four-year (2010-2014) programme “The Impact of Migration: Migrant-Related Change in the Ancient Near East” (€ 600,000).
Administration and service to the profession
Secretary, Examining board of the research master-programme Classics and Ancient Near Eastern Civilisations.
Member, Examining board of the BA programme OCMW.
Editor Ancient Near East of the Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient
Co-editor of the Jaarbericht Ex Oriente Lux
Co-editor of the series PIHANS published by the Nederland Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, Leiden
University Lecturer Assyriology
- Faculty of Humanities
- Leiden Institute for Area Studies
- SMES Assyriologie
- Dercksen J.G. (2023), The sale of Halkiasu and the Old Assyrian legal formula qablitam erru'um. In: Albayrak I., Gürkan Gokcek L., Yildirim N. & Toptas K. (Eds.), Prof. Dr. Salih Cecen'e Armagan. Ankara: Bilgin Kültür Sanat Yayinlari. 43-51.
- Dercksen J.G. (2023), The Kültepe tablets in the Hilprecht-Sammlung: a contribution to the chronology of their trade and collecting. In: Ridder J.J. de & Stein P. (Eds.), The Frau Professor Hilprecht Collection of Babylonian Antiquities: Essays dedicated to Manfred Krebernik during the colloquium held on March 17-18, 2022 at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. 37-67.
- Dercksen J.G. (2022), The golden interval of Old Assyrian trade (2000-1700 BC). In: Warburton D.A. (Ed.), The earliest economic growth in world history: proceedings of the Berlin workshop. Leiden/Leuven: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten/Peeters. 75-104.
- Dercksen J.G. (2022), Markets and marketplaces: the Old Assyrian evidence. In: Dross-Krüpe K. & Ruffing K. (Eds.), Markt, Märkte und Marktgebäude in der antiken Welt. Philippika - Altertumswissenschaftliche Abhandlungen no. 100. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. 145-165.
- Dercksen J.G. (2021), Money in the Old Assyrian Period. In: Rahmstorf L., Barjamovic G. & Ialongo N. (Eds.), Merchants, Measures and Money: Understanding Technologies of Early Trade in a Comparative Perspective. Weight & Value: Weight Metrology and its Economic and Social Impact on Bronze Age Europe, West and South Asia no. 2. Kiel/Hamburg: Wachholtz Verlag. 331-359.
- Dercksen J.G. (2021), Scribal Education in Assur and Kanesh: The Practical Vocabularies. In: Kulakoglu F., Kryszat G. & Michel C. (Eds.) Cultural Exchange and Current Research at Kültepe and its Surroundings. Subartu no. 46 Turnhout: Brepols. 209-234.
- Dercksen J.G. (2019), Jona en Assyrië, Schrift: tijdschrift over de bijbel 51(4): 11-17.
- Atwood P.L., Boer R. de, Kouwenberg N.J.C., Lisman J.J.W., Potts D.T., Radner K., Squitieri A., Ameen A., Rohde J., Yawar P., Herr J.-J., Salih H., Petchey F., Hogg A., Gratuze B., Raheem K.R., Potts H.B., Raven M.J., Greco C., Vesco P. del, Weiss L., Aston B.G., Scheers A.-J., Warner N., Roeten L.H., Roos J.C., Veenhof K.R. & Dercksen J.G. (Eds.) (2019), JEOL. Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux no. 47. Leiden: Ex Oriente Lux.
- Dercksen J.G. (2018), Review of: Vatandoust A., Parzinger H. & Helwing B. (2011), Early Mining and Metallurgy on the Western Central Iranian Plateau. The first five years of work. Archäologie in Iran und Turan no. 9. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern. Bibliotheca Orientalis 74(5/6): 663-665.
- Dercksen J.G. (2018), Review of: Garner J. (2013), Das Zinn der Bronzezeit in Mittelasien II. Die montanarchäologischen Forschungen an den Zinnlagerstätten.. Archäologie in Iran und Turan no. 12. Berlin: Deutsches Archäologisches Institut. Bibliotheca Orientalis 74(5-6): 666.
- Dercksen J.G. & Boer R. de (Eds.) (2017), Private and State in the Ancient Near East; Proceedings of the 58th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale at Leiden 16-20 July 2012. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns.
- Dercksen J.G. (2017), New evidence for beeswax during the Old Assyrian Colony Period and the Ur III Period. In: Kulakoglu F. & Barjamovic G. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Second Kültepe International Meeting. Subartu no. 39. Turnhout: Breepols. 105-116.
- Dercksen J.G. (2017), Language and writing in Nineveh. In: Petit L.P. & Morandi Bonacossi D. (Eds.), Nineveh the great city. Symbol of beauty and power. Papers on Archaeology of the Leiden Museum of Antiquities no. 134. Leiden: Sidestone Press. 201-204.
- Dercksen J.G. (2017), Zinn (tin). A.I. Philologisch. In Mesopotamien. In: Streck M.P., Bramanti A., Fechner J., Greiner M., Heigl S. & Morello N. (Eds.), Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie no. 15. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter. 301-304.
- Dercksen J.G. (2016), The use of DAH in an Old Babylonian account text, Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires 2016(4): 151-152.
- Dercksen J.G. (2016), An Old Assyrian reference to Susa, Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires 2016(2): 66.
- Dercksen J.G. (2016), Kaspam lasqul "let me weigh out the silver": Mesopotamian and Anatolian weights during the Old Assyrian Colony period. In: Kleber K. & Pirngruber R. (Eds.), Silver, Money and Credit. A tribute to Robartus J. van der Spek on the occasion of his 65th birthday no. 128. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten. 11-22.
- Dercksen J.G., Subartu 35: 47-58 (Kulakoglu C. and Michel C. (eds.), Proceedings of the 1st Kültepe International Meeting. Studies Dedicated to Kutlu Emre.).
- Dercksen J.G. (Six texts with new and rare toponyms from the house of Ali-ahum (Kt c/k), published in: Albayrak I., Erol H., Cayir M. (eds.), Cahit Günbatti'ya Armagan. Studies in Honour of Cahit Günbatti, Ankara 2015; 49-58).
- Dercksen J.G. (2015), The goddess who was robbed of her jewellery. Ishtar and her priest in an Assyrian colony, Anatolica : Annuaire International pour les Civilisations de l'Asie Anterieure 41: 37-59.
- Dercksen J.G. (2014), Handelaars van voor de Zijderoute. De Assyrische kooplieden in Anatolië en de studie van het Oudassyrisch in Nederland. In: Kaper O.E. & Dercksen J.G. (Eds.), Waar de geschiedenis begon. Nederlandse onderzoekers in de ban van spijkerschrift, hiërogliefen en aardewerk. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten. 105-118.
- Dercksen J.G. (2014), The Old Assyrian trade and its participants. In: Baker H.D. & Jursa M. (Eds.), Documentary Sources in Ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman Economic History. Methodology and Practice. Oxford and Philadelphia: Oxbow Books. 59-112.
- Kaper O.E. & Dercksen J.G. (Eds.) (2014), Waar de geschiedenis begon, Nederlandse onderzoekers in de ban van spijkerschrift, hiërogliefen en aardewerk: Uitgave naar aanleiding van het 75-jarig bestaan van het Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, 1939-2014. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten.
- Kaper O.E. & Dercksen J.G. (Eds.) (2014), Waar de geschiedenis begon. Nederlandse onderzoekers in de ban van spijkerschrift, hiërogliefen en aardewerk. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten.
- Zehnder Th. (2014) (book review) [Die hethitischen Frauennamen, Katalog und Interpretation] (translation: Dercksen J.G.). Review of: Zehnder Th., Die hethitischen Frauennamen, Katalog und Interpretation 109(3): 196-199.
- Dercksen J.G. (Ed.) (2013), . Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux.
- Dercksen J.G. (2013), Review of: Arkhipov I. (2012), Le vocabulaire de la métallurgie et la nomenclature des objets en métal dans les textes de Mari. Archives royales de Mari no. 32. Leuven: Peeters. Babel und Bibel 7: 353-369.
- Dercksen J.G. (2011), Weeks, months and years in Old Assyrian chronology, Bibliotheca Orientalis 68(3/4): 233-243.
- Dercksen J.G. (2011), The seal of Bel: sealing practices and Babylonian religious motifs in the Seleucid period. Leiden: NINO.
- Dercksen J.G. (2011), The exchange of sacrificial gifts among Old Assyrian merchants. In: Düring B.S. (Ed.), Correlates of Complexity. Leiden: NINO. 59-67.
- Dercksen J.G. (2011), From ore to artefact: metals in Kanesh. Kulakoglu F. (Ed.), Anatolia's Prologue, Kültepe Kanesh Karum, Assyrians in Istanbul. Exhibition Anatolia's Prologue, Kültepe Kanesh Karum, Assyrian in Istanbul. Kayseri: Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality. 110-115.
- Dercksen J.G. (2011), The barley of life, Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires 2011: 17-17.
- Dercksen J.G. (2010), Anitta and the Man of Purushanda. In: Dönmez S. (Ed.), DUB.SAR E.DUB.BA.A Studies Presented in Honour of Veysel Donbaz. Istanbul: Ege. 71-75.
- Dercksen J.G. (2010), Mineral resources and demand in the ancient Near East. Forlanini M. (Ed.), La natura nel Vicino Oriente antico. La natura nel Vicino Oriente antico. Milano: Centro Studi del Vicino Oriente. 43-75.
- Dercksen J.G. (Ed.) (2010), . Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux.
- Dercksen J.G. (Ed.) (2009), . JOURNAL OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE ORIENT.
- Dercksen J.G. (Ed.) (2009), . Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux.
- Dercksen J.G. (2009), Sattel, Reallexikon der Assyriologie 12(1/2): 90-93.
- Dercksen J.G. (2008), Anatolia and the Jazira during the Old Assyrian period. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut van het Nabije Oosten.
- Dercksen J.G. (2008), The Assyrian colony at Kanesh. Wilhelm G. (Ed.), Hattuša-Bogazköy. Das Hethiterreich im Spannungsfeld des Alten Orients. . Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. 109-124.
- Dercksen J.G. (2008), Observations on land use and agriculture in Kanes. Michel C. (Ed.), Old Assyrian Studies in Memory of Paul Garelli. . Leiden: NINO. 139-157.
- Dercksen J.G. (2008), The colophon of Kültepe Eponym List G, Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires 2008(3): 71-72.
- Dercksen J.G. (2008), Subsistence, surplus and the market for grain and meat at ancient Kanesh, Altorientalische Forschungen 35(1): 86-102.
- Dercksen J.G. (2007), Die altassyrischen Handelsabgaben in Nordmesopotamien und Anatolien im 19.-18. Jh. v. Chr. in Verträgen und Praxis. Klinkott H., Kubisch S. & Müller-Wollermann R. (Eds.), Geschenke und Steuern, Zölle und Tribute. Antike Abgabenformen in Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. congres Tübingen. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill. 188-211.
- Dercksen J.G. (2007) Boekbespreking. Review of: Chavales M.W. (2006), The Ancient Near East. Historical Sources in Translation. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Bibliotheca Orientalis 64: 320-325.
- Dercksen J.G. (2007), Ving Sargon een gazelle of een caféhoudster? Een vermeende parodie over koning Sargon van Akkad uit Kültepe, Phoenix: bulletin uitgegeven door het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux 53: 23-30.
- Dercksen J.G. (2007), On Anatolian loanwords in Akkadian texts from Kültepe, Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie 97: 26-46.
- Dercksen J.G. (2006), Adad is king. The Sargon text from Kültepe, Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux 39: 107-129.
- Demareé R.J., Heerma van Voss M.S.H.G., Dercksen J.G., Veenhof K.R. & Dijkstra M.J. (Eds.) (2006), . Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux.
- Dercksen J.G. (2005), Metals according to documents from Kültepe-Kanish dating to the Old Assyrian Colony Period. Yalcun Ü. (Ed.), Anatolian Metal III. Der Anschnitt, Beiheft 18. Symposium "Anatolian Metal III", oktober 2002 in Bochum. Bochum: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum. 17-34.
- Dercksen J.G. (2005), Die Stadt Assur als Wirtschaftsmacht. Meyer J.-W. & Sommerfeld W. (Eds.), 2000 v. Chr. Politische, wirtschaftliche und kulturelle Entwicklung im Zeichen einer Jahrtausendwende. 3. Internationales Colloquium der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft. Saarbrücken: Saarbrücker Druckerei und Verlag. 155-169.
- Dercksen J.G. (2005), Again on Old Assyrian tuzinnum, Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires 2: 39-39.
- Dercksen J.G. (2004), Old Assyrian utharum "characteristic, mark" and lu uthurum "it surely was a sign", Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires 1: 8-9.
- Dercksen J.G. (2004), Old Assyrian Institutions. Leiden: NINO.
- Dercksen J.G. (2004), Some elements of Old Anatolian society in Kanis. Dercksen J.G. (Ed.), Assyria and beyond : studies presented to Mogens Trolle Larsen. Feestbundel. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Osten. 137-177.
- Dercksen J.G. (Ed.) (2004), Syria and beyond: studies presented to Mogens Trolle Larsen. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten.
- Demareé R.J., Heerma van Voss M.S.H.G., Dercksen J.G., Veenhof K.R. & Dijkstra M.J. (Eds.) (2004), . Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux.
- Dercksen J.G. (2003), A new OA text from Kültepe about mules, Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires 2: 52-52.
- Dercksen J.G. (2003), Kultureller und wirtschaftlicher Austausch zwischen Assyrern und Anatoliern (Anfang des zweiten Jahrtausends v. Chr.). Blum H., Faist B., Pfälzner P. & Wittke A.-M. (Eds.), Brückenland Anatolien? Ursachen, Extensität und Modi des Kulturaustausches zwischen Anatolien und seinen Nachbarn. congres Graduiertenkolleg Anatolien und seine Nachbarn, Tübingen 22-24 november 2000. Tübingen: Attempto Verlag. 35-44.
- Dercksen J.G. (2003) Boekbespreking. Review of: Faist B.I. (2001), Der Fernhandel des assyrischen Reiches zwischen dem 14. und 11. Jh. v. Chr. no. 4. Münster: Ugarit-Verlag. JOURNAL OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE ORIENT 46: 540-543.
- Dercksen J.G. (2002) Boekbespreking. Review of: Michel C. (2001), Correspondance des marchands de Kanis au début du IIe millénaire avant J.-C.. Paris: Les Editions du Cerf. Archiv für Orientforschung 48/49: 196-198.
- Dercksen J.G. (2002) Boekbespreking. Review of: Hecker K. & Kryszat G. (1998), Kappadokische Keilschrifttafeln aus den Sammlungen der Karlsuniversität Prag. Praha: Univerzita Karlova. Archiv für Orientforschung 48/49: 183-196.
- Soldt W.H. van, Dercksen J.G., Krispijn T.J.H. & Kouwenberg N.J.C. (Eds.) (2001), Veenhof Anniversary Volume, Studies presented to Klaas R. Veenhof on the Occasion of his Sixty-fifth birthday. Leuven: Peeters.
- Dercksen J.G. (2000), Institutional and private in the Old Assyrian period. Bongenaar A.C.V.M. (Ed.), Interdependency of Institutions and Private Entrepreneurs (MOS Studies, 2). no. 87. Instanbul: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten. 135-152.
- Dercksen J.G. (1999), Old Assyrian finance. In: Dercksen J.G. (Ed.), Trade and finance in ancient Mesopotamia. Leiden: NN. 99-112.
- Dercksen J.G. (1998) recensie. Review of: Bilgig E. (1998), Ankara Kültepe Tabletleri 1-2; Ankaraner Kültepe-Texte 3. Ankara/Stuttgart: NN. JOURNAL OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE ORIENT 41: 220-224.
- Dercksen J.G. (1998) Boekbespreking. Review of: Michel C. (1998), Tablettes paléo-assyriennes de Kültepe, volume 1 (Kt 90/k). Parijs: De Boccard. Archiv für Orientforschung 44/45: 333-339.
- Dercksen J.G. (Ed.) (1997), Trade and finance in ancient Mesopotamia. Leiden: NN.
- Dercksen J.G. (1997) Boekbespreking. Review of: Ulshöfer A.M. (1997), Die altassyrischen Privaturkunden no. 4/5. Stuttgart: Steiner. Orientalistische Literaturzeitung 92: 502-508.
- Dercksen J.G. (1997), Handel in het oude Mesopotamië, ICA Nieuwsbrief november: 23-29.
- Dercksen J.G. (1997), Rijk worden in Turkije: Assyrische kooplieden in Kanisj, Phoenix: bulletin uitgegeven door het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux 43(3): 154-167.
- Dercksen J.G. (1997), The silver of the gods. On old Assyrian ikribu, Archivum Anatolicum 3: 75-100.
- Dercksen J.G. (7 March 1996), The Old Assyrian Coppertrade in Anatolia, Istanbul (Dissertatie, Leiden University). Supervisor(s): Veenhof K.R.