Tell el-'Oueili

31°14′35″N 45°53′06″E / 31.243°N 45.885°E / 31.243; 45.885TypesettlementLength200 metres (660 ft)Height5 metres (16 ft)HistoryFounded6500-5400 BCEAbandonedbefore 3000 BCEPeriodsUbaidSite notesExcavation dates1976, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989ArchaeologistsA. Parrot. J.-L. Huot

Tell el-'Oueili (also Awayli; Mesopotamian Arabic: تل العويلي, romanized: Təll əl-ʿOwēli) is a tell, or ancient settlement mound, located in Dhi Qar Governorate, southern Iraq. The site was excavated between 1976 and 1989 by French archaeologists under the direction of Jean-Louis Huot. The excavations have revealed occupation layers predating those of Eridu, making Tell el-'Oueili the earliest known human settlement in Lower Mesopotamia.

History of research

The site was first noted and surveyed by French scholar André Parrot, who at the time was working at nearby Larsa.[1] Two small excavation seasons took place in 1976 and 1978, and regular excavations commenced in 1981.[2][3] Four more seasons took place in every uneven year until 1989.[4][5] All excavations were directed by French archaeologist Jean-Louis Huot.[6]

Tell el-'Oueili and its environment

The site measures 200 metres (660 ft) in diameter and is approximately 5 metres (16 ft) high.[1] It is located ca. 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) southeast of Larsa in Dhi Qar Governorate, southern Iraq. The environment of 'Oueili is characterized by temperatures that can reach more than 50 °C in summer and less than 250 mm of annual rainfall, making the area unsuitable for rainfed agriculture.[7]

Occupation history

Tell el-'Oueili was occupied during the Ubaid period.[8] The excavations have revealed occupation layers dating from Ubaid 0 (6500-5400 BCE) to Ubaid 4. The phase Ubaid 0 was first discovered at this site and was hence provisionally termed 'Oueili-phase.[3] A surface survey showed that the site was occupied into the Uruk Period.[9]

See also

  • History of Mesopotamia
  • iconAsia portal
  • History portal
  • flagIraq portal

References

  1. ^ a b Huot, J.-L. (1980), "Tell el'Oueili (Iraq): les Premiers Résultats", Paléorient (in French), 6 (1): 207–211, doi:10.3406/paleo.1980.4270
  2. ^ Huot, J.-L. et al., "Tell el-'Oueilli: The works of 1978 and 1981.", Sumer, vol. 39, no. 1-2, pp. 18-67, 1983
  3. ^ a b Huot, J.-L. (1985), "Tell el'Oueili. Principaux Résultats de la Quatrième Campagne (1983)", Paléorient (in French), 11 (1): 119–123, doi:10.3406/paleo.1985.4367
  4. ^ Forest, J.D.. "Tell el-'Oueili preliminary report on the 4th season (1983): Stratigraphy and architecture'.", Sumer, vol. 44, no. 1–2, pp. 55–66, 1985-1986
  5. ^ Breniquet, Catherine, "Tell el-'Oueili 1983: The Small Finds", Sumer, vol. 44, pp. 109-11, 1985-1986
  6. ^ Vallet, R.; Huot, J.-L. (1990), "Les Habitations à salles hypostyles d'époque Obeid 0 de Tell El'Oueili", Paléorient (in French), 16 (1): 125–130, doi:10.3406/paleo.1990.4527
  7. ^ Huot, J.-L. (1985a), "Travaux en basse Mésopotamie. Les fouilles françaises à Larsa et 'Oueili", Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (in French), 129 (2): 300–318, doi:10.3406/crai.1985.14270
  8. ^ Lebeau, M., "A First Report on pre-Eridu Pottery from Tell El Oueili", Sumer, vol. 44, pp. 88-108, 1985
  9. ^ J. L. Huot, "Tell el Oueili : surface exploration", Sumer, vol. 27, no. 1-2, pp. 45-58, 1971
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Chronology of the Neolithic period
  Pre-Pottery Neolithic   Pottery Neolithic
BC Europe Egypt Syria
Levant
Anatolia Khabur Sinjar Mountains
Assyria
Middle Tigris Low
Mesopotamia
Iran
(Khuzistan)
Iran Indus/
India
China
11000 Early Pottery
(18,000 BC)
10000 Pre-Pottery Neolithic A
Gesher
Mureybet
(10,500 BC)
 
9000 Jericho
Tell Abu Hureyra
8000 Pre-Pottery Neolithic B
Jericho
Tell Aswad
Göbekli Tepe
Çayönü
Aşıklı Höyük
Initial Neolithic
(Pottery)
Nanzhuangtou
(8500–8000 BC)
7000 Egyptian Neolithic
Nabta Playa
(7500 BC)
Çatalhöyük
(7500–5500)
Hacilar
(7000 BC)
Tell Sabi Abyad
Bouqras
Jarmo Ganj Dareh
Chia Jani
Ali Kosh
Mehrgarh I
6500 Neolithic Europe
Franchthi
Sesklo
Pre-Pottery Neolithic C
('Ain Ghazal)
Pottery Neolithic
Tell Sabi Abyad
Bouqras
Pottery Neolithic
Jarmo
Chogha Bonut Teppe Zagheh Pottery Neolithic
Peiligang
(7000–5000 BC)
6000 Pottery Neolithic
Sesklo
Dimini
Pottery Neolithic
Yarmukian
(Sha'ar HaGolan)
Pottery Neolithic
Ubaid 0
(Tell el-'Oueili)
Pottery Neolithic
Chogha Mish
Pottery Neolithic
Sang-i Chakmak
Pottery Neolithic
Lahuradewa


Mehrgarh II






Mehrgarh III
5600 Faiyum A
Amuq A

Halaf






Halaf-Ubaid
Umm Dabaghiya
Samarra
(6000–4800 BC)
Tepe Muhammad Djafar Tepe Sialk
5200 Linear Pottery culture
(5500–4500 BC)

Amuq B
Hacilar

Mersin
24–22
 

Hassuna

Ubaid 1
(Eridu 19–15)

Ubaid 2
(Hadji Muhammed)
(Eridu 14–12)

Susiana A
Yarim Tepe
Hajji Firuz Tepe
4800 Pottery Neolithic
Merimde

Amuq C
Hacilar
Mersin
22–20
Hassuna Late

Gawra 20

Tepe Sabz
Kul Tepe Jolfa
4500
Amuq D
Gian Hasan
Mersin
19–17
Ubaid 3 Ubaid 3
(Gawra)
19–18
Ubaid 3 Khazineh
Susiana B

3800
Badarian
Naqada
Ubaid 4
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