Harran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench
Harran · Carrhae
Eblaite to Ottoman; University 8th–12th c. CE·Umayyad / Abbasid (Harran School)·🇹🇷 Şanlıurfa Province, Harran Plain, Turkey
About
About Harran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench
Plain city excavated by Lloyd & Brice 1951–56 and recent Harran University, birthplace of al-Battani, Sabian moon temple underlying.
Why it mattersKey Umayyad / Abbasid (Harran School) ancient-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Trade network extent
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 02Defensive stronghold
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. 800 CE university; city wall 1050 BCE
- Period
- Eblaite to Ottoman; University 8th–12th c. CE
- Culture
- Umayyad / Abbasid (Harran School)
- Purpose
- Great Mosque and world's first Islamic university (Jabir ibn Hayyan) — 800 CE Abbasid academy
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1988
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 800 CE university; city wall 1050 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Harran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench
1970 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Harran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench
On the ground
Structures & features
36.8710° N · 39.0310° E · 368 m · 3 mapped features
Harran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench — Principal Structure
structurestructure at Harran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench — primary structure
36.8711° N · 39.0301° EHarran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench — Northern Complex
complexcomplex at Harran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench — subsidiary complex
36.8702° N · 39.0322° EHarran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench — Rock_Art Annex 3
rock artrock art at Harran — First Islamic University Excavation Trench — hydraulic feature
36.8724° N · 39.0322° E