TELL
AL-'UBAID
![](tellalubaid.jpg)
Tell
Al-'Ubaid shown within Iraq
![](640px-Tel_Ubaid.jpg)
Tell
al-'Ubaid
Location
: Dhi Qar Province, Iraq
Region
:
Mesopotamia
Coordinates
: 30°58'20 N 46°01'50 E
Type
:
tell
Site
notes :
Excavation
dates : 1919, 1923, 1924, 1937
Archaeologists
: H. Hall, C. L. Woolley, S. Lloyd, P. Delougaz
Tell
al-'Ubaid is a low, relatively small tell (settlement mound) west
of nearby Ur in southern Iraq's Dhi Qar Governorate. The majority
of the remains are from the Chalcolithic Ubaid period, for which
Tell al-'Ubaid is the type site, with an Early Dynastic temple and
cemetery at the highest point.
History
of archaeological research :
The site was first worked by Henry Hall of the British Museum in
1919. Later, C. L. Woolley excavated there in 1923 and 1924, followed
by Seton Lloyd and Pinhas Delougaz in 1937, the latter working for
the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
Tell
al-'Ubaid and its environment :
Today, Tell al-'Ubaid lies 250 kilometres (160 mi) from the Persian
Gulf, but the shoreline lay much closer to the site during the Ubaid
period. The tell, or settlement mound, is an oblong measuring approximately
500 by 300 metres (1,640 ft × 980 ft) on a roughly north-south
axis. It extends about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) above the current surface.
The excavated Early Dynastic temple is located on the northern edge
of the site. A cemetery was also found with 96 graves, mostly from
the Early Dynastic Period.
Occupation
history :
The lower level of the site featured large amounts of Ubaid pottery
and associated kilns. Evidence for Ubaid period pottery manufacture
has also been observed on the surface of the site. The size of the
surface scatter indicates that pottery production was a specialized
craft, and this confirms finds from other Ubaid sites like Eridu.
The site also yielded a cemetery and some finds from the Jemdet
Nasr period. The temple of Ninhursag at the summit was on a cleared
oval similar to that at Khafajah. The wall surrounding the temple
was built by Shulgi of the Ur III Empire.
Gallery
:
![](600px-Stone_statue_of_Kurlil_Early_Dynastic_III_2500_BC_Tell_Al-%27Ubaid,_Iraq.jpg)
Stone
statue of Kurlil, Early Dynastic III, 2500 BC Tell Al-'Ubaid
![](579px-Parts_of_mosaic_columns_from_the_entrance_to_the_Temple_of_Ninhursag_at_Tell_al-%27Ubaid,_Iraq,_2800-2600_BCE._Iraq_Museum.jpg)
Parts
of mosaic columns from the entrance to the Temple of Ninhursag at
Tell al-'Ubaid, Iraq, 2800 - 2600 BCE. Iraq Museum
![](640px-Reclining_cow,_part_of_a_frieze_once_decorated_the_facade_of_the_Temple_of_Ninhursag_at_Tell_al-%27Ubaid,_Iraq,_2800-2600_BCE._Iraq_Museum.jpg)
Recumbent
cow, part of a frieze once decorated the facade of the Temple of
Ninhursag at Tell al-'Ubaid, Iraq, 2800 - 2600 BCE. Iraq Museum
![](640px-Sumerian_scene,_milking_cows_and_making_dairy_products._From_the_facade_of_the_Temple_of_Ninhursag_at_Tell_al-%27Ubaid,_Iraq,_2800-2600_BCE._Iraq_Museum.jpg)
Sumerian
scene, milking cows and making dairy products. From the facade of
the Temple of Ninhursag at Tell al-'Ubaid, Iraq, 2800 - 2600 BCE.
Iraq Museum
Source
:
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Tell_al-%27Ubaid