Tell Bazi
Tell Bazi
Early–Middle Bronze (2600–1600 BCE)·Euphrates EB – Mitanni·🇸🇾 Raqqa Governorate, Tabqa Dam zone, Syria
About
About Tell Bazi
Tell Bazi in Raqqa Governorate, Tabqa Dam zone, Syria is a Early–Middle Bronze (2600–1600 BCE) tell attributed to Euphrates EB – Mitanni. Twin northern town with Tell Banat across Euphrates branch. Stratified deposits with radiocarbon sequence and imported materials trace long-distance exchange. Systematic and rescue excavations exposed houses, fortifications and craft zones preserved as a multi-period tell on aerial imagery.
Why it mattersKey Euphrates EB – Mitanni sequence for Raqqa Governorate, Tabqa Dam zone; defines regional chronology for Early–Middle Bronze.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Phasing precision vs radiocarbon plateau
- 02Ritual vs domestic architecture?
Theories
- 01Regional centre model
- 02ceremonial/territorial 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.2600–1600 BCE
- Period
- Early–Middle Bronze (2600–1600 BCE)
- Culture
- Euphrates EB – Mitanni
- Purpose
- Twin northern town with Tell Banat across Euphrates branch
- Rediscovered
- 1976 survey; systematic excavations
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2600
Initial founding / earliest level
c.2000 BCE
Major architectural rephase — walls and houses rebuilt in stone/mudbrick
1991
Modern systematic excavations / rescue programme
On the ground
Structures & features
35.9800° N · 38.0500° E · 310 m · 3 mapped features
Tell Bazi — Central mound/acropolis
structureMain stratified summit with houses/fortifications and sequence
35.9803° N · 38.0502° ETell Bazi — Lower town / extramural area
complexLower town or extramural cemetery/workshop zone
35.9796° N · 38.0503° ETell Bazi — Craft / midden quarter
workshopWorkshop or midden with pottery and tools
35.9802° N · 38.0496° E
Gallery