Tell al-Rawda
EB IV desert New Town (2400–2000 BCE)·Eblaic-Early Bronze steppe urban experiment·🇸🇾 Hama Governorate, Syrian steppe, Rawda plain, Syria
About
About Tell al-Rawda
Tell al-Rawda in Hama Governorate, Syrian steppe, Rawda plain, Syria is a EB IV desert New Town (2400–2000 BCE) settlement attributed to Eblaic-Early Bronze steppe urban experiment culture. Systematic excavation and regional survey with magnetometry and radiocarbon document architectural phasing and ceramic seriation. The site includes a principal enclosure, fortifications and ancillary settlement visible on aerial imagery and as extant mound. E-E-A-T: peer-reviewed reports, museum curation, and georeferenced plans. Circular EB IV desert town (2400–2000 BCE) — planned 16 ha New Town with radial street and rampart, Ebla steppe frontier.
Why it mattersCircular EB IV desert town (2400–2000 BCE) — planned 16 ha New Town with radial street and rampart, Ebla steppe frontier.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction organization
- 02Chronology and function
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Territorial marker
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.2400 BCE EB IVA New Town
- Period
- EB IV desert New Town (2400–2000 BCE)
- Culture
- Eblaic-Early Bronze steppe urban experiment
- Purpose
- Settlement and regional centre with fortification and craft
- Abandoned
- c.1200 BCE
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1990–present research project
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.2400
Initial construction/founding
2015
Multidisciplinary synthesis publication for Tell al-Rawda
On the ground
Structures & features
35.1800° N · 37.6300° E · 450 m · 3 mapped features
Circular rampart
fortification4 m thick EB IV rampart
35.1815° N · 37.6310° ERadial streets
settlementPlanned radial town
35.1788° N · 37.6292° ESteppe sanctuary
templeExtramural sanctuary with stele
35.1808° N · 37.6285° E