Tell Basmusian
تل باسمسيان · Basmusian, Dokan · Basmusiān
Samarran to Halaf (c.6200–5000 BCE)·Samarran → Hassuna–Halaf (Basmusian)·🇮🇶 Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Dokan Lake southeast, Lower Zab, Iraq
About
About Tell Basmusian
Mound on Dokan southeast plain, excavated by Braidwood (Oriental Institute) 1951 Dokan rescue. Samarran buff painted ware superposed by Hassuna-Halaf painted — the Kurdistan Samarran frontier before Halaf spread, parallel to Matarrah and Seeher.
Why it mattersSamarran-Hassuna link on Dokan plain showing early agricultural frontier in Kurdistan between Mesopotamian Samarra and Zagros.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Samarran frontier — colony or emulation in Kurdistan?
Theories
- 01Braidwood-JAS Dokan Samarran frontier model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Samarran village c.6200 BCE
- Period
- Samarran to Halaf (c.6200–5000 BCE)
- Culture
- Samarran → Hassuna–Halaf (Basmusian)
- Builders
- Samarran communities
- Purpose
- Samarran-Hassuna agricultural village on Dokan lacustrine plain
- Rediscovered
- Modern archaeological survey/ rescue
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.6200 BCE
Samarran buff village
c.5800 BCE
Hassuna-Halaf overlay
1951
Braidwood Jarmo-Dokan survey
1955
Rescue excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
35.8800° N · 45.0500° E · 530 m · 3 mapped features
- Tell Basmusian — Central moundcave hallKey sub-area of Tell Basmusian (Samarran to Halaf) showing Samarran horizon35.8792° N · 45.0495° E
- Tell Basmusian — South terraceterraceKey sub-area of Tell Basmusian (Samarran to Halaf) showing Samarran horizon35.8800° N · 45.0501° E
- Tell Basmusian — East gatestorageKey sub-area of Tell Basmusian (Samarran to Halaf) showing Samarran horizon35.8808° N · 45.0507° E