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
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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 buildingkilnKey sub-area of Yarim Tepe (Hassuna to Ubaid) showing Hassuna horizon36.3193° N · 42.3794° E
- Yarim Tepe — Storage quartergranaryKey sub-area of Yarim Tepe (Hassuna to Ubaid) showing Hassuna horizon36.3201° N · 42.3800° E
- Yarim Tepe — Cemetery areapalaceKey sub-area of Yarim Tepe (Hassuna to Ubaid) showing Hassuna horizon36.3209° N · 42.3806° E
Gallery