The Earliest Levels at Yarim Tepe I and Yarim Tepe II in Northern Iraq

Abstract

In 1973 the journal Iraq published the results of our first three seasons of excavations at the Hassuna settlements of Yarim Tepe I and the Halaf levels of Yarim Tepe II, situated in the Sinjar Plain of Northern Iraq. Following that publication the Soviet archaeological expedition, under the direction of R. M. Munchaev, continued its extensive studies in the area up to and including 1980. Prior to 1976 its major efforts had been centred on the separate tells of Yarim Tepe I and II, which were excavated over large areas down to virgin soil. This article presents the general results of our studies in the earliest levels of these sites and is a direct continuation of our 1973 article.In parallel with the excavations at Yarim Tepe I and II the Soviet expedition undertook a survey of a considerable part of the Sinjar Plain in the vicinity of Telafar, in the course of which were discovered a number of settlements belonging to various early stages in the development of the agrarian cultures of ancient Mesopotamia. The earliest period (8th–7th millennia bc) is represented by a preceramic fortified settlement, Tell Maghzaliyah, which is situated on the southern slopes of Jebel Sinjar in the vicinity of Telafar. Culturally and chronologically the settlement can be compared with Jarmo and Çayönü Tepesi.