Tell Fecheriye
Tell Fekheriye · Sikan · Washukanni?
Middle Bronze to Neo-Assyrian (c.2000–600 BCE; bilingual 850 BCE)·Old Babylonian → Mittani (Washukanni?) → Middle Assyrian → Aramaean → Neo-Assyrian·🇸🇾 Al-Hasakah, Khabur Triangle, Syria
About
About Tell Fecheriye
Tell Fecheriye (ancient Sikan/Sikani) is 90-ha dual-mound south of Halaf on Khabur source, famed for 1979 Hadad-yithʻi bilingual statue — life-size basalt with Akkadian cuneiform and Old Aramaic (c.850 BCE), Rosetta stone of Aramaic. Mittani palace fragment fuels Washukanni hypothesis (Novák). German-Syrian 2006–10 excavations revealed Mittani, Assyrian palace, temple and Byzantine town.
Why it mattersRosetta stone of Aramaic; leading Washukanni candidate.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Is it Washukanni?
- 02Bilingual public art rationale?
Theories
- 01Washukanni = Fecheriye (Novák) vs Hammidi/Urkesh
- 02Diglossia negotiation (Millard)
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.2000 BCE
- Period
- Middle Bronze to Neo-Assyrian (c.2000–600 BCE; bilingual 850 BCE)
- Culture
- Old Babylonian → Mittani (Washukanni?) → Middle Assyrian → Aramaean → Neo-Assyrian
- Builders
- Mittani (Washukanni?); Hadad-yithʻi
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.600 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1929 (Oppenheim)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1500 BCE
Mittani Washukanni? settlement
c.850 BCE
Hadad-yithʻi bilingual statue erected
1979
Statue discovered in palace forecourt
2006–10
Bonatz–Martin re-excavation & geomag
On the ground
Structures & features
36.8150° N · 40.0680° E · 375 m · 3 mapped features
Bilingual Statue Forecourt (Hadad-yithʻi Palace)
palaceAssyrian–Aramaean courtyard where c.850 BCE basalt bilingual statue found in situ
36.8153° N · 40.0682° EMittani Palace Mound (Proposed Washukanni)
palaceCitadel Mittani vaulted fragment, Nuzi ware — Washukanni candidate
36.8145° N · 40.0676° ENeo-Assyrian Lower Town and Byzantine Quarter
city90-ha lower town with Assyrian admin building, cistern and Byzantine glass houses
36.8160° N · 40.0674° E