Tell Khamis
تل الخميس · Tall Khamis · Tell Khamis (Aleppo)
Halaf–Early Bronze Age (c.5600–2300 BCE)·Halaf → Ubaid → EBA Syro-Mesopotamian·🇸🇾 Aleppo Governorate, Sajur–Euphrates interfluve, Syria
About
About Tell Khamis
Khabur–Euphrates interfluve tell, 1.5 ha, 9 m high, Halaf–Ubaid–EBA sequence (c.5600–2300 BCE). Halaf painted horizon, Ubaid tripartite houses, EBA II–III shaft tombs with metal and north Mesopotamian black-burnished ware linking to Ebla. Sondage 1990s by Meyer shows calcite-tempered Halaf, Ubaid beveled bowls and late EB fort wall trace. Pastorally linked to Tell Ahmar and Umm al-Marra EBA urbanisation corridor.
Why it mattersHalaf–EBA continuity on Sajur; parallels Umm al-Marra corridor.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Connection to Ebla network?
Theories
- 01Interfluve pastoral transit 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.5600 BCE Halaf hamlet
- Period
- Halaf–Early Bronze Age (c.5600–2300 BCE)
- Culture
- Halaf → Ubaid → EBA Syro-Mesopotamian
- Builders
- North Syrian Halaf villagers
- Purpose
- Interfluve farming hamlet and EB burial mound
- Abandoned
- c.2300 BCE EBA collapse
- Rediscovered
- 1936 survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.5600 BCE
Halaf hamlet
c.4000 BCE
Ubaid village
c.2600 BCE
EBA shaft tombs
On the ground
Structures & features
36.6000° N · 38.2000° E · 400 m · 3 mapped features
Tell Khamis — Shaft tomb cluster
tombEBA II–III shaft tombs, west slope
36.6005° N · 38.2005° ETell Khamis — Halaf painted level
houseGeometric Halaf pottery level, deep sounding
36.6000° N · 38.2000° ETell Khamis — EBA fort trace
fortificationPebble wall footing
36.5995° N · 38.1995° E