Tell Kashkashok III — Khabur Headwaters
Tell Kashkashok · Kashkashok III · Tell Kaskashok III
Halaf late to Ubaid 4 (5200–3700 BCE; peak Ubaid 3 4500 BCE)·Halaf → Ubaid (Khabur facies)·🇸🇾 Hasaka Governorate, Upper Khabur, near Amuda, Syria
About
About Tell Kashkashok III — Khabur Headwaters
Kashkashok III is a 1.4 ha Halaf-Ubaid transition village third in the Kashkashok cluster (I–IV) excavated by Tokyo University (T. Matsutani, 1964) and later S. Fujii rescue. Ubaid period (4800–4000 BCE) tripartite mudbrick houses with niched façades, Samarran-like painted ware, and Halaf Hassuna transitional in situ pottery kiln. Most detailed Ubaid house plans in Syrian Khabur.
Why it mattersHeadwater Ubaid village that settled debate on Halaf–Ubaid transition independence in Upper Khabur vs Balikh.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why tripartite Ubaid houses already in 4500 BCE periphery?
Theories
- 01Matsutani: Khabur Ubaid diffusion from Balikh not copying South
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.5200 BCE (Halaf late)
- Period
- Halaf late to Ubaid 4 (5200–3700 BCE; peak Ubaid 3 4500 BCE)
- Culture
- Halaf → Ubaid (Khabur facies)
- Builders
- Halaf-Ubaid farmers
- Purpose
- Headwater hamlet on Khabur foothills controlling spring
- Abandoned
- c.3700 BCE (Late Chalcolithic)
- Rediscovered
- 1964 Matsutani Japan Khabur survey; 1987 Fujii re-excavation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1964
Tokyo University sounding
c.4500 BCE
Ubaid tripartite house construction with niche façade
On the ground
Structures & features
36.6800° N · 40.6200° E · 420 m · 3 mapped features
Kashkashok III Tripartite House
habitationNiched central hall with side wings (House 3)
36.6806° N · 40.6205° EKashkashok III Painted Kiln
workshopUbaid black-on-buff updraft kiln cluster
36.6794° N · 40.6208° EKashkashok Halaf-Ubaid Basal Pit
trenchHassuna-Halaf pits under Ubaid floor
36.6810° N · 40.6194° E