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Tell Abada : an Ubaid village in central Mesopotamia

Author / Creator
Jasim, Sabah Abboud, author
Available as
Online
Summary

"In the winter of 1978‭, ‬an extensive‭ ‬archaeological‭ ‬campaign was launched in the Hamrin Basin area in the east-central part of Iraq to salvage many archaeological sites before their flooding‭...

"In the winter of 1978‭, ‬an extensive‭ ‬archaeological‭ ‬campaign was launched in the Hamrin Basin area in the east-central part of Iraq to salvage many archaeological sites before their flooding‭, ‬due to the construction of a large dam‭. ‬This volume documents the excavations carried out in two of the sites--Tell Abada and Tell Rashid--dating back to the Ubaid period in the fifth millennium‭ ‬BC. ‬The first site‭ (‬Tell Abada‭) ‬is of particular importance‭; ‬it is an almost complete village with three occupational levels unearthed‭. ‬Several residential houses and buildings with distinctive architectural features are exposed‭. ‬Industrial workshops dedicated to the manufacture of pottery vessels are present‭. ‬Of express interest was the first-time discovery of pottery-making equipment‭, ‬notably the potter's wheel‭. ‬An equally exciting discovery is the presence of many fire installations dedicated to pottery vessels'‭ ‬burning‭. ‬The pottery products are enormous‭, ‬varied‭, ‬and richly decorated‭, ‬reflecting aesthetic features and agility‭. ‬The presence of the pottery in a very well stratified sequence enhances our understanding of Ubaid pottery‭, ‬clarifies its chronological classifications‭, ‬and establishes cultural links with other Ubaid sites in the region‭.‬ Among other remarkable discoveries are many infant burial urns‭, ‬granaries‭, ‬water ducts‭, ‬and proto-tablets‭. ‬The varied aspects of‭ ‬the cultural material revealed throughout the excavations provides significant insight into daily life‭, ‬settlement patterns‭, ‬craft specialization‭, ‬religious practices‭, ‬and socioeconomic status‭, ‬and sheds new light on the Ubaid period in general in Mesopotamia‭.‬"

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