Tell Sabi Abyad — Balikh Neolithic Annex Pits
Pre-Pottery Neolithic–Halaf (8500–5500 BCE)·Balikh Halaf–Transitional·🇸🇾 Raqqa Governorate, Syria
About
About Tell Sabi Abyad — Balikh Neolithic Annex Pits
Tell Sabi Abyad — Balikh Neolithic Annex Pits in Raqqa Governorate, Syria is a Pre-Pottery Neolithic–Halaf (8500–5500 BCE) tell attributed to Balikh Halaf–Transitional. Pit annex area north of Tell Sabi Abyad central mound with 'White Ware' transitional pottery 6400 BCE. Akkermans Sabi Abyad White Ware 6400 BCE earliest pottery Balikh and Halaf type-site.
Why it mattersKey Balikh Halaf–Transitional origin village
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Neolithic origins
- 02Halaf sequence refinement
Theories
- 01Pottery origins model
- 02Early village aggregation
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. 8500 BCE Level 11 white ware
- Period
- Pre-Pottery Neolithic–Halaf (8500–5500 BCE)
- Culture
- Balikh Halaf–Transitional
- Purpose
- Pit annex area north of Tell Sabi Abyad central mound with 'White Ware' transitional pottery 6400 BCE
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 8500 BCE Level 11 white ware
Initial construction
c. 1930 CE
Modern excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
36.5000° N · 39.1000° E · 320 m · 3 mapped features
Tell Sabi Abyad — Balikh Neolithic Annex Pits — High Tell Summit
summitSummit mound
36.5001° N · 39.1001° ETell Sabi Abyad — Balikh Neolithic Annex Pits — Peripheral Pits
pitsPeripheral pit houses and workshops
36.4998° N · 39.1002° ETell Sabi Abyad — Balikh Neolithic Annex Pits — Fort Wall Section
wallFortification or enclosure
36.5004° N · 39.0998° E