Tell Barri (Kahat)
Ka-ha-at · Tell Barri · Kahat · Tell al-Barri
Early Bronze to Mitanni to Assyrian to Parthian·Hurrian Mitanni → Middle Assyrian·🇸🇾 Al-Hasakah Governorate, Jaghjagh River (Habor sub-tributary), Syria
About
About Tell Barri (Kahat)
Stratified Jezirah tell Kahat (c.3000 BCE–1400 CE, peak Mitanni capital c.1500–1360 BCE and Assyrian Kahat) on Jaghjagh mid-Khabur. Paolo Emilio Pecorella Firenze 1980–2006 excavations found: Early Bronze circular wall, 18th c BCE Old Babylonian tablet house (Adad-nirari letters), Mitanni palace with Nuzi ware and ivories, Middle Assyrian governor palace of Tukulti-Ninurta II with 400+-tablet archive, and Parthian/Roman fort on top. 108-m high tell — one of tallest in Khabur.
Why it mattersTallest Khabur tell; Mitanni–Assyrian dual archive; Jaghjagh Hurrian capital; stratigraphic column 3000 BCE–1300 CE.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Kahat = Kahat of Mari letters — same place confirmed?
- 02Mitanni palace burning — Hittite Šuppiluliuma sack?
Theories
- 01Kahat as Hurrian capital that became Assyrian model for provincial palace — Pecorella thesis
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.3000 BCE EJ village; walled c.2600 BCE; Mitanni palace 1500 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze to Mitanni to Assyrian to Parthian
- Culture
- Hurrian Mitanni → Middle Assyrian
- Builders
- Hurrian Kahat kings; Tukulti-Ninurta I Assyrian
- Purpose
- Jaghjagh river capital and Assyrian provincial seat controlling northern Khabur
- Abandoned
- c.1300 CE Ayyubid then Ottoman hamlet on summit
- Rediscovered
- 1980 Pecorella University Firenze 26-season project
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1980
Pecorella Firenze begins
c.1470 BCE
Mitanni palace — Hurrian ivory and Nuzi ware
c.890 BCE
Assyrian governor palace with archive
On the ground
Structures & features
36.7440° N · 41.1270° E · 360 m · 3 mapped features
Mitanni palace (Area G)
palaceHurrian palace with Nuzi pottery and ivories
36.7441° N · 41.1271° EAssyrian governor palace
palaceMiddle Assyrian archive palace 890 BCE
36.7439° N · 41.1269° ESouth gate wall
wallEBA rounded city wall
36.7440° N · 41.1270° E
Gallery