Bad-tibira
Tell al-Madineh · Bad-tibira (Tell Madineh) · Patibira
Ubaid to Ur III (c.5000–2000 BCE; Sumerian King List antediluvian)·Ubaid → Uruk → Sumerian antediluvian → Ur III·🇮🇶 Dhi Qar Governorate, S Sumer, Iraq
About
About Bad-tibira
Bad-tibira (Tell al-Madineh) is counted in Sumerian King List as the second antediluvian city (before Shuruppak), ruled by mythical Dumuzi. Surface 50-ha mound shows Ubaid village through ED city with copper-working evidence (bad-tibira = 'Copper Smith Wall'). Vaugn Crawford soundings and Iraqi survey revealed Ubaid pottery and ED copper slag.
Why it mattersAntediluvian King List city; early copper metallurgy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was it really antediluvian or Ubaid retrojection?
- 02Copper source?
Theories
- 01Early copper innovation (Matthews)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.5000 BCE (Ubaid)
- Period
- Ubaid to Ur III (c.5000–2000 BCE; Sumerian King List antediluvian)
- Culture
- Ubaid → Uruk → Sumerian antediluvian → Ur III
- Builders
- Antediluvian Dumuzi (mythical)
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.2000 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1927 (Vaughn Crawford)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.5000 BCE
Ubaid copper-working village
c.2900 BCE
ED Bad-tibira city (King List)
1927
Crawford survey identifies Madineh
On the ground
Structures & features
31.3800° N · 45.9700° E · 12 m · 3 mapped features
Ubaid Copper Workshop Quarter
industrialUbaid–Uruk copper slag and crucible workshop
31.3804° N · 45.9702° EAntediluvian City Mound Core
city50-ha ED mound — King List second city
31.3808° N · 45.9695° ESumerian Canal Embankment
hydraulicCanal trace feeding Shatt basin
31.3794° N · 45.9707° E