Chogha Gavaneh — Central High Mound
Neolithic to Early Bronze Age, c.7000–800 BCE (massif c.3200 BCE)·Halaf / Ubaid / Uruk / Kura-Araxes·🇮🇷 Kermanshah Province, Islamabad-e Gharb, Iran
About
About Chogha Gavaneh — Central High Mound
Central high mound at Chogha Gavaneh (7th–6th millennium BCE Neolithic to Bronze Age high platform, 15 m high, 80 m diameter). Kamalaldin Abdi & Majidzadeh excavations 1970s-80s uncovered Early Bronze Age massif with successive floors, seals and beveled rim bowls marking Uruk expansion. Residential terraces downslope.
Why it mattersWestern Iranian Uruk expansion marker; sealings link to Susa.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Nature of Kura-Araxes intrusion over Uruk layers
Theories
- 01Outpost of Susa-Jemdet Nasr network
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.3200 BCE massif (Tell summit)
- Period
- Neolithic to Early Bronze Age, c.7000–800 BCE (massif c.3200 BCE)
- Culture
- Halaf / Ubaid / Uruk / Kura-Araxes
- Builders
- Ubaid-Uruk villagers
- Purpose
- Tell-mound temple platform — high terrace for settlement shrine
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.3200 BCE massif (Tell summit)
Initial construction / foundation
c.500 CE
Major refurbishment / enlargement phase
c.1100 CE
Abandonment or conversion
1890–1930
Modern rediscovery and first scientific survey
On the ground