Chogha Mish
چغامیش · Choga Mish · Tappeh-ye Chogha Mish · Chogha Mīsh
Late Neolithic through Middle Elamite (c.6800–2000 BCE); Archaic Susiana, Middle Susiana, Uruk, Susa II, Elamite·Susiana (Archaic–Middle) → Uruk–Susa II (Proto-Elamite) → Elamite (Susa III)·🇮🇷 Khuzestan Province, Dezful County, Susiana Plain, Iran
About
About Chogha Mish
Large proto-literate Susiana tell (c.6800–2000 BCE) — 20 ha main tell with Middle Elamite palace, but famed for Late 5th–4th millennium (c.4400–3100 BCE) proto-literate sealings, early cylinder seal impressions, copper hoard and beveled-rim evidence contemporaneous with Susa Acropole. Excavated by Pinhas Delougaz & Helene Kantor (Oriental Institute, 1961–78) revealing Archaic Susiana sequence (Susiana a–d), Middle Susiana painted ware, Late Uruk–Susa II sealings and Proto-Elamite tablets. Burnt monumental building (Burnt Building) with 10 seal impressions. Type-site for Susiana–Mesopotamia Late Uruk interaction. Buried Ubaid houses under Uruk dump.
Why it mattersName-site Archaic–Middle Susiana ceramic sequence; Burnt Building archive proved Late Uruk sealing before proto-cuneiform — Susiana urban genesis.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Burnt Building fired — accident or conquest sealing hiding?
- 02Chogha Mish–Susa rivalry vs unified Susiana polity?
Theories
- 01Kantor Susiana vs Mesopotamian Uruk origin of sealing debate
- 02Alizadeh Chogha Mish as Susa precursor vs peer polity model
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.6800 BCE Archaic Susiana village; Late Susiana monumental 4400 BCE; Burnt Building 3400 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic through Middle Elamite (c.6800–2000 BCE); Archaic Susiana, Middle Susiana, Uruk, Susa II, Elamite
- Culture
- Susiana (Archaic–Middle) → Uruk–Susa II (Proto-Elamite) → Elamite (Susa III)
- Builders
- Susiana (Archaic–Middle) → Uruk–Susa II (Proto-Elamite) → Elamite (Susa III) builders
- Purpose
- Susiana Plain agro-town with sealing administration for Dez River irrigation and Susa–Mesopotamia trade
- Abandoned
- c.2000 BCE Elamite contraction before Sukkalmah Susa dominance
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1961–78 P. Delougaz & H. Kantor (Oriental Institute Chicago) & Iranian Centre Archaeology
- Excavation
- Excavated
2000
Initial work at Chogha Mish
2015
Stratigraphy and geophysics synthesis for Chogha Mish
On the ground
Structures & features
32.2240° N · 48.5560° E · 85 m · 3 mapped features
Burnt Building
palatialLate Uruk sealed storeroom
32.2242° N · 48.5562° EMiddle Susiana quarter
settlementPainted ware houses
32.2238° N · 48.5558° EArchaic sounding
soundingDeep Susiana a basal houses
32.2240° N · 48.5560° E