Lidar Höyük
Lidar Hoyuk · Tell Lidar
Neolithic → EBA → MBA Karum → LBA → Iron → Medieval (6000 BCE–1500 CE)·Halaf → Euphrates EBA → Assyrian Karum → Mitanni/Hittite·🇹🇷 Şanlıurfa Province, Bozova District, Atatürk Reservoir Euphrates, Turkey
About
About Lidar Höyük
Lidar Höyük is a double-mound Euphrates tell on the Euphrates left bank now peninsula in Atatürk Reservoir — Neolithic–Medieval sequence (Halaf to Ottoman), excavated 1979–1987 by Harald Hauptmann & Manfred Korfmann (Heidelberg). Defines Euphrates Chalcolithic-Ubaid, EBA urban and MBA Karum horizons with Kultepe-like tablets, LBA Mitanni-Hittite and Iron Age Neo-Assyrian levels. 12 m high main mound with 8 ha lower town and Karum suburb under Euphrates silt.
Why it mattersType-site for Middle Euphrates long sequence and Karum period in Upper Euphrates — 6 kyr continuity.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Karum tablets local production or Kültepe import?
- 02Halaf houses rectilinear vs tholoi at Lidar?
Theories
- 01Hauptmann Euphrates urban autonomy vs Algaze world system
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.6000 BCE Halaf; EBA urban 3000 BCE; Karum 1900 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic → EBA → MBA Karum → LBA → Iron → Medieval (6000 BCE–1500 CE)
- Culture
- Halaf → Euphrates EBA → Assyrian Karum → Mitanni/Hittite
- Builders
- Euphrates villagers → EBA urbanites → Assyrian merchants → Mitanni princes
- Purpose
- Euphrates trade depot and Atatürk crossing control
- Abandoned
- c.1500 CE Ottoman abandonment
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1979–1987 Hauptmann Atatürk salvage
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.6000
Initial founding
2015
Synthesis publication for Lidar Höyük
On the ground
Structures & features
37.3300° N · 38.5200° E · 440 m · 3 mapped features
Main mound Karum level
settlementMBA Karum houses with tablet
37.3315° N · 38.5210° ELower town Chalcolithic
settlementHalaf-Ubaid burned houses
37.3288° N · 38.5192° EMitanni-Hittite gate
fortificationLB gate with Mitanni seal impression
37.3308° N · 38.5185° E