Tell Qara Quzaq
Tell Qara Quzaq · Tell Qara Quzak · Qara Qouzak Höyük
Uruk to Islamic (4000 BCE–1200 CE)·Uruk → EBA Karababa → MBA → Hellenistic·🇸🇾 Aleppo Governorate, Euphrates, Qara Quzaq crossing, Syria
About
About Tell Qara Quzaq
Tell Qara Quzaq is a 1.8 ha Chalcolithic-to-EBA ford mound on the Qara Quzaq Euphrates crossing excavated by Madrid Complutense team (T. Matilla, 1989–95) before Tishrin flooding. Uruk incised bowls, EBA 2700 BCE townhouses burnt with sealing impressions, MBA Karababa ware, Hellenistic bridge pier and Islamic caravanserai foundation underlying. Crucial ford before Carchemish downstream.
Why it mattersImportant to crossing-place archaeology: one of few measured ford widths matching 3rd-millennium ferry reconstruction.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Role in Ebla–Nagar river trade?
Theories
- 01Matilla: intermediate port between Tell Ahmar–Carchemish system
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.4000 BCE (Uruk early)
- Period
- Uruk to Islamic (4000 BCE–1200 CE)
- Culture
- Uruk → EBA Karababa → MBA → Hellenistic
- Builders
- Uruk and EBA communities
- Purpose
- Euphrates crossing toll town guarding northern route to Manbij
- Abandoned
- Medieval caravan rerouting
- Rediscovered
- 1989–95 Matilla Tishrin salvage
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1989–1995
Madrid Complutense Tishrin rescue
c.2700 BCE
Burned EBA block sealing house
On the ground
Structures & features
36.6300° N · 38.1800° E · 360 m · 3 mapped features
Qara Quzaq Burned Sealing House
habitationBurnt house with cylinder seal impressions and grain jars
36.6306° N · 38.1805° EQara Quzaq Uruk Pier
portStone pier foundation for Uruk reed-boat mooring
36.6293° N · 38.1808° EQara Quzaq Hellenistic Pier
structureHellenistic ashlar bridge pier footing
36.6310° N · 38.1794° E