Tell Beydar Field I — Nabada Lower Extensions
Tell Beydar · Beydar Field I · Nabada South Field
Early Jazira I–V (3100–2100 BCE)·Early Jazira Hurrian precursor → Akkadian·🇸🇾 Hasaka Governorate, Khabur tributary Wadi Aweidj, 35 km NW Hasaka, Syria
About
About Tell Beydar Field I — Nabada Lower Extensions
Beydar Field I is the 4 ha southern lower town of Tell Beydar (ancient Nabada, 25 ha) excavated by Euro-Syrian team (Marc Lebeau, 1992–). Early Jazira I–V (3100–2100 BCE) planned quarter: EJ II hurrian temples A/B, tablet archive 2420 BCE administrative sealings, EJ III baked-brick drains and potters kilns. 600 horizontal exposures showing orthogonal 50×50 m insula. Field I is outside southern gate bastion.
Why it mattersExemplar of EJ orthogonal town planning where street widths correlate to insula hierarchy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Population size urban vs suburb differential?
Theories
- 01Lebeau: Nabada as 70 ha kingdom before Leilan supersession
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.3100 BCE (EJ I)
- Period
- Early Jazira I–V (3100–2100 BCE)
- Culture
- Early Jazira Hurrian precursor → Akkadian
- Builders
- Early Jazira planners
- Purpose
- Suburb ceram production outside citadel wall for provincial capital Nabada
- Abandoned
- c.2100 BCE (Akkadian crisis)
- Rediscovered
- 1992 Euro-Syrian project
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1992–
Lebeau Euro-Syrian ongoing; Field I gate bastion
c.2420 BCE
Archive 2420 administrative tablet deposit
On the ground
Structures & features
36.7400° N · 40.5800° E · 350 m · 3 mapped features
- Beydar Field I Kiln BatteryworkshopFour-chamber updraft pottery kiln with vitrified linings36.7406° N · 40.5805° E
- Beydar Field I South Gate BastionfortificationSouthern store gateway bastion mudbrick 4 m thick36.7393° N · 40.5808° E
- Beydar Archive Sealing PitarchiveEJ II sealing pit 320 impressions (2420 BCE)36.7410° N · 40.5794° E