Chogha Gavaneh (Choqa Gavaneh)
چغاگاوانه · Choqa Gavaneh · Chogha Gavaneh · Chagha Gavaneh
Chalcolithic to Islamic (5600 BCE–1500 CE; urban peak MBA 2000–1500 BCE)·Zagros Chalcolithic → Early Dynastic Zagros → Old Babylonian peripheral → Kassite → Islamic·🇮🇷 Kermanshah Province, Eslamabad-e Gharb Valley, Central Zagros, Iran
About
About Chogha Gavaneh (Choqa Gavaneh)
Multi-period central Zagros mound (5600 BCE–1500 CE, 45 m high) in the heart of modern Eslamabad-e Gharb, yielding Early Bronze–Middle Bronze urban strata and the significant Chogha Gavaneh tablet archive (1800 BCE): 56 Old Babylonian period cuneiform tablets indicating direct commercial and diplomatic links with Babylon under Hammurabi's dynasty, plus Kassite and Mitanni later layers. Excavated by Abdi (2000s), it shows Zagros high-valley urbanism mediating Mesopotamia–Iranian plateau exchange (lapis, tin, horses) alongside glyptic and cylinder seal workshops.
Why it mattersOnly Zagros urban archive contemporary with Hammurabi, proving Mesopotamia–highland political integration, not just trade.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Is Chogha Gavaneh ancient Palum mentioned in Babylon letters?
Theories
- 01Islamabad corridor as tin-for-lapis conduit via Eshnunna
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. 5600 BCE (Chalcolithic Ubaid-related)
- Period
- Chalcolithic to Islamic (5600 BCE–1500 CE; urban peak MBA 2000–1500 BCE)
- Culture
- Zagros Chalcolithic → Early Dynastic Zagros → Old Babylonian peripheral → Kassite → Islamic
- Builders
- Zagros valley community; Old Babylonian-period mayor (ensi) archive house
- Purpose
- Highland trade-realm administrative centre controlling Islamabad Valley pass
- Abandoned
- Ephemerally after Mongol; main Bronze townscape sealed under later overburden
- Rediscovered
- 1970s surface finds; excavated 1998– K. Abdi (Dartmouth & Iran ICAR)
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.1800 BCE
Babylon-linked mayoral archive sealed in house fire
c.1600 BCE
Kassite cremation burials introduced
1998
First trench reveals 12 m MBA stratigraphy
On the ground
Structures & features
34.3369° N · 47.0911° E · 1345 m · 2 mapped features
Tablet archive house (Level III)
archiveMBA house with 56 tablets in firing debris
34.3371° N · 47.0913° ECremation cemetery
cemeteryKassite-period jar cremation field on western flank
34.3367° N · 47.0908° E