Yarim Tepe
يارم تبه · Yarim Tepe I–III · Yarım Tepe
Hassuna to Ubaid (c.5900–4300 BCE; Yarim multi-period)·Hassuna → Halaf → Ubaid (Yarim I–III)·🇮🇶 Nineveh Governorate, Sinjar plain, Tell Afar west, Iraq
About
About Yarim Tepe
Three low mounds (Yarim I–III) 12 km west of Tell Afar on the Sinjar plain, excavated by Soviet expedition 1969–76 (Merpert, Munchaev). Yarim I Hassuna painted, II Halaf tholoi, III Halaf-Ubaid transitional — textbooks define the north Mesopotamian Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic.
Why it mattersThree-mound Hassuna-Halaf-Ubaid reference sequence for north Mesopotamia (Yarim I Hassuna, II Halaf, III Ubaid-Halaf transitional).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Halaf-Ubaid transitional whether in situ or intrusive?
Theories
- 01Merpert Yarim III as Halaf-Ubaid hybrid 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
- Hassuna village c.5900 BCE (Yarim I)
- Period
- Hassuna to Ubaid (c.5900–4300 BCE; Yarim multi-period)
- Culture
- Hassuna → Halaf → Ubaid (Yarim I–III)
- Builders
- Hassuna communities
- Purpose
- Multi-mound Neolithic centre with Hassuna-Halaf-Ubaid sequence
- Rediscovered
- Modern archaeological survey/ rescue
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.5900 BCE
Yarim I Hassuna village
c.5500 BCE
Yarim II Halaf tholoi
c.4600 BCE
Yarim III Halaf-Ubaid transitional
1969
Merpert Soviet excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
36.3200° N · 42.3800° E · 340 m · 3 mapped features
Yarim Tepe — Ceremonial building
kilnKey sub-area of Yarim Tepe (Hassuna to Ubaid) showing Hassuna horizon
36.3193° N · 42.3794° EYarim Tepe — Storage quarter
granaryKey sub-area of Yarim Tepe (Hassuna to Ubaid) showing Hassuna horizon
36.3201° N · 42.3800° EYarim Tepe — Cemetery area
palaceKey sub-area of Yarim Tepe (Hassuna to Ubaid) showing Hassuna horizon
36.3209° N · 42.3806° E
Gallery