Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building
Tell Aswad
PPNB (8700–7500 BCE)·PPNB (Aswadian)·🇸🇾 Damascus Basin, Ghouta, Syria
About
About Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building
Damascus oasis village excavated by de Contenson 1960s–2008, oldest plastered skulls with wheat/barley and domestication evidence. Recorded context — Period: PPNB (8700–7500 BCE); Culture: PPNB (Aswadian); Field status: excavated; Materials: mudbrick, plaster, lime; Condition: ruins.
Why it mattersKey PPNB (Aswadian) tell with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Observatory
- 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. 8700 BCE
- Period
- PPNB (8700–7500 BCE)
- Culture
- PPNB (Aswadian)
- Purpose
- Early farming village with skull-caching pits — 30 plastered skulls and grain storage
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1927
- Excavation
- Excavated
1950 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building
c. 8700 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building
c. 800 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building
On the ground
Structures & features
33.4820° N · 36.2230° E · 540 m · 3 mapped features
- Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building — Principal Palacepalacepalace at Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building — primary structure33.4815° N · 36.2236° E
- Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building — Temple Annex 2templetemple at Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building — primary structure33.4824° N · 36.2212° E
- Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building — Southern Gategategate at Tell Aswad — Pre-Pottery Neolithic Skull Building — primary structure33.4802° N · 36.2215° E