Mezraa-Teleilat
Mezraa-Teleilat · Mezraa Teleilat · Mezra Teleilat · Birecik Mezraa
PPNA through Ubaid (c.9600–5500 BCE); PPNA, PPNB, Halaf, Ubaid·Upper Euphrates Neolithic (Mezraa phase) → Halaf → Ubaid·🇹🇷 Şanlıurfa Province, Birecik District, Euphrates, Turkey
About
About Mezraa-Teleilat
Euphrates Neolithic through Chalcolithic mound (c.9600–5500 BCE) with PPNA–PPNB–Pottery Neolithic sequence: excavated by Mehmet Özdoğan (Istanbul University) 1999–2004 as Euphrates salvage. Levels show round PPNA huts → PPNB cellular rectilinear houses (like Çayönü), Halaf painted pottery and Ubaid transition. Famous for Neolithic stamp seals, obsidian exchange, plastered skull fragment and botanical evidence for early einkorn/barley cultivation. Buried Neolithic houses with terrazzo floors beneath Halaf levels. Now 30% submerged by Birecik Dam backwater.
Why it mattersOnly continuous PPNA–Halaf–Ubaid sequence on Turkish Euphrates; type-site for North Syria Neolithic–Halaf transition with seal evidence.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Stamp seal function — ownership or ritual?
- 02How PPNB cellular plan diffused from Çayönü/Mezraa to Euphrates?
Theories
- 01Özdoğan Euphrates Neolithic core model
- 02Akkermans Halaf emulation vs migration debate
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.9600 BCE PPNA round huts; PPNB cellular houses 8500 BCE; Halaf 6000 BCE
- Period
- PPNA through Ubaid (c.9600–5500 BCE); PPNA, PPNB, Halaf, Ubaid
- Culture
- Upper Euphrates Neolithic (Mezraa phase) → Halaf → Ubaid
- Builders
- Upper Euphrates Neolithic (Mezraa phase) → Halaf → Ubaid builders
- Purpose
- Euphrates terrace village with long Neolithic–Chalcolithic farming sequence
- Abandoned
- c.5500 BCE Ubaid reorganisation; later Bronze Age sporadic
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1999–2004 Mehmet Özdoğan (Istanbul Univ.) Şanlıurfa Museum Birecik Dam salvage
- Excavation
- Excavated
2000
Initial work at Mezraa-Teleilat
2015
Stratigraphy and geophysics synthesis for Mezraa-Teleilat
On the ground
Structures & features
37.0210° N · 37.9820° E · 380 m · 3 mapped features
PPNB cellular quarter
settlementPPNB rectilinear houses with plaster floors
37.0212° N · 37.9822° EHalaf levels
settlementHalaf painted pottery and kilns
37.0208° N · 37.9818° EPPNA basal huts
settlementPPNA round pisé huts
37.0210° N · 37.9820° E