Tell Hawa
تل الهوى · Tell al-Hawa · Tel Hawa
Neolithic–Iron Age (c.6100–600 BCE) plus later·Halaf → Ubaid → Ninevite 5 → ED–Akkadian → Mittanian–Assyrian·🇮🇶 Ninawa Governorate, north Sinjar plain, Iraq
About
About Tell Hawa
Massive north Mesopotamian mound 80 ha (Tell Hawa) with citadel 20 ha and Lower Town, 25 m high. North Iraq type-site for North Mesopotamian Halaf→Ubaid→Ninevite 5→ED–Akkadian→Mittani–Assyrian sequence (c.6100 BCE–600 CE) dominating Sinjar–Nineveh corridor. Survey 1986– by Warwick Ball (British Museum) and Iraqi DG shows 3rd-mill. double walls, ED palatial building, Mitanni cylinder seals. Threatened by Sinjar looting and Tel Afar battle damage.
Why it mattersNorth Iraq's Tell Brak analogue; Halaf–ED continuity.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01ED palace under citadel?
Theories
- 01Sinjar corridor water-control 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
- c.6100 BCE Halaf hamlet
- Period
- Neolithic–Iron Age (c.6100–600 BCE) plus later
- Culture
- Halaf → Ubaid → Ninevite 5 → ED–Akkadian → Mittanian–Assyrian
- Builders
- North Mesopotamian villagers → Assyrian kings
- Purpose
- Northern plain capital controlling Sinjar–Nineveh caravan
- Abandoned
- c.600 BCE Assyrian fall, later Parthian squatter
- Rediscovered
- 1986 Ball survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.6100 BCE
Halaf hamlet
c.3000 BCE
Ninevite 5 town
c.2500 BCE
ED double-wall city
1986
Ball topographic survey
On the ground
Structures & features
36.0700° N · 42.9300° E · 340 m · 3 mapped features
Tell Hawa — Citadel summit
citadelHalaf–ED citadel with ED building
36.0705° N · 42.9300° ETell Hawa — Lower Town wall
fortificationED double town wall trace
36.0700° N · 42.9305° ETell Hawa — North Town Ninevite 5 quarter
workshopNinevite 5 painted ware kilns
36.0695° N · 42.9295° E