Tell Biasi
Tell Biasi · Tall Biasi · Euphrates Biasi mound
EBA-MBA-LBA (c.3500-1200 BCE)·Euphrates EBA to Old Babylonian/Mitannian·🇸🇾 Raqqa Governorate, Euphrates west bank, Selenkahiyeh vicinity, Syria
About
About Tell Biasi
Tell Biasi on the Euphrates-Khabur system (Raqqa Governorate, Euphrates west bank, Selenkahiyeh vicinity) is part of the middle Euphrates salvage cluster between Munbaqa/Ekalte and the Selenkahiyeh-Banat-Hadidi urban belt cited in the Levant-Mesopotamia focus. EB III fortified levels, Old Babylonian ceramics and Mitannian-Hittite horizons document the riverine settlement hierarchy feeding Emar and the Balikh-Khabur grain storage system adjacent to Tell Arbid/Mohammed Diyab.
Why it mattersEuphrates-Khabur riverine type-site bridging Habuba Kabira-Selenkahiyeh urban belt to Khabur grain towns surrounding Tell Arbid.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of fortified enclosure vs flood defence?
- 02Chronology refined by radiocarbon or ceramic seriation?
Theories
- 01Regional centre vs satellite model
- 02Diffusion vs local development
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 EBA village/town
- Period
- EBA-MBA-LBA (c.3500-1200 BCE)
- Culture
- Euphrates EBA to Old Babylonian/Mitannian
- Builders
- Euphrates EBA to Old Babylonian/Mitannian community builders
- Purpose
- Euphrates-Khabur riverine trade and administration node
- Abandoned
- c.2000-1200 BCE
- Rediscovered
- Surveyed and excavated (regional project)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.3000
Foundation and early occupation
c.2500 BCE
Peak fortified horizon
1990
Modern excavation and publication
On the ground
Structures & features
35.8800° N · 38.1800° E · 290 m · 3 mapped features
EB III fortified level
fortificationEB III city wall and gate
35.8802° N · 38.1801° EOld Babylonian horizon
ceramic horizonOld Babylonian storage and tablets
35.8803° N · 38.1802° EMitannian-Hittite level
settlementLate Bronze import horizon
35.8805° N · 38.1803° E
Gallery