Tell Jerablus Tahtani South — Euphrates Burned Level
Tell Jerablus Tahtani · Jerablus Tahtani Lower Town · Cerablus Tahtani South
EBA I–III to MBA (2900–1800 BCE)·EBA Syro-Euphrates (Kish-related) → MBA Carchemish·🇸🇾 Aleppo Governorate, Euphrates valley, Jerablus-Tepe, Syria
About
About Tell Jerablus Tahtani South — Euphrates Burned Level
Jerablus Tahtani South is the 3 ha lower town south of the 1.5 ha high mound excavated by Edgar Peltenburg (Edinburgh) 1992–98 before Tishrin Dam submergence. EBA II–III fortified town (2400–2100 BCE) with oval enclosure wall, monumental tomb 21 elite burial (bronze dagger, marble figurine), and late Early Dynastic painted Karababa ware. Outer town shows planned streets and drain. Burned destruction LEVEL III sealed intact inventories.
Why it mattersBest-preserved EBA oval enclosure town on Middle Euphrates linking Tell Banat White Monument horizon to urbanism.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Ethnic affiliation: Semitic or pre-Semitic Euphratean?
Theories
- 01Peltenburg: rival to Carchemish precursor then abandoned for Tell Jerablus Fawqani rise
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.2900 BCE (EBA I)
- Period
- EBA I–III to MBA (2900–1800 BCE)
- Culture
- EBA Syro-Euphrates (Kish-related) → MBA Carchemish
- Builders
- Euphrates EBA townspeople
- Purpose
- Fortified river-port guarding Carchemish–Ebla crossing
- Abandoned
- c.1800 BCE (MBA abandonment)
- Rediscovered
- 1992 Peltenburg Tishrin salvage
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1992–1998
Edinburgh-GDG rescue before Tishrin Lake
c.2300 BCE
Burned Level III with tomb 21 interment
On the ground
Structures & features
36.0700° N · 38.0200° E · 335 m · 3 mapped features
Jerablus Tahtani Oval Wall
fortificationEBA oval fort wall 75×65 m with gate
36.0707° N · 38.0205° EJerablus Tomb 21
tombIntact elite cist with bronze toggle pin and Cycladic marble
36.0693° N · 38.0208° EJerablus Burned Level III Houses
habitationBurnt room blocks with sealing and pot clusters
36.0710° N · 38.0194° E