Tell al-Raqai
تل الرقعي · Tell Raqai · Raqai
Early Dynastic (Early Jezireh I–II, c.2900–2600 BCE)·Ninevite 5 → Early Dynastic Khabur·🇸🇾 Hasakah Governorate, Khabur tributary (upper Khabur), Syria
About
About Tell al-Raqai
Early Dynastic small town on Khabur tributary, 0.4 ha, 3 m high, Early Jezireh I–II (c.2900–2600 BCE). Famous for eight beehive-shaped plastered silos (2.5 m diameter) with burnt grain, surrounded by 14 rectangular houses and fortification trace. Excavated 1983–86 by G. Schwartz & H. Curvers (Yale/American Schools) shows grain redistribution centre without temple/palace — test for central storage before urbanism. ED I ninevite 5 pottery, later EB II abandonment at 2600 BCE climatic event.
Why it mattersIconic decentralised storage model before Ebla/Urban revolution; cited for surplus debate.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Who controlled access to silos?
- 02Climate vs social abandonment?
Theories
- 01Corn-surplus co-operative vs chiefly
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.2900 BCE
- Period
- Early Dynastic (Early Jezireh I–II, c.2900–2600 BCE)
- Culture
- Ninevite 5 → Early Dynastic Khabur
- Builders
- Khabur ED villagers
- Purpose
- Communal granary and redistribution town prefiguring urban administration
- Abandoned
- c.2600 BCE ED II
- Rediscovered
- 1983 Yale survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.2900 BCE
Silo town founded on virgin wadi terrace
c.2700 BCE
Eight silos in use, burnt grain stored
c.2600 BCE
Abandoned, wind-blown fill
On the ground
Structures & features
36.0400° N · 41.0000° E · 380 m · 3 mapped features
Tell al-Raqai — Beehive granary cluster
granaryEight plastered silos, west mound
36.0405° N · 41.0000° ETell al-Raqai — ED house Row A
houseRectangular houses with hearths, east slope
36.0400° N · 41.0005° ETell al-Raqai — Wadi terrace gate
courtyardPebble courtyard at wadi edge
36.0395° N · 40.9995° E
Gallery