TELL ES-SAWWAN

Tell es Sawwan location in Iraq

Tell es-Sawwan is an important Samarran period archaeological site in Saladin Province, Iraq. It is located 110 kilometres (68 mi) north of Baghdad, and south of Samarra.

The site is a primarily Ubaid, Hassuna, and Samarra culture occupation with some later Babylonian graves. It is considered the type site for the Samarran culture.

Tell es-Sawwan and its environment :

Tell es-Sawwan is an oval mound 350 metres (1,150 ft) long by 150 metres (490 ft) wide with a maximum height of 3.5 metres (11 ft). The main mound was surrounded by a three-metre defensive ditch and a strong mudbrick wall. The village consisted of large houses and other buildings thought to be granaries.

The inhabitants of Tell es-Sawwan were farmers who used irrigation from the Tigris to support their crops, as rainfall was unreliable. They used stone and flint tools similar to those of the Hassuna culture. Their prosperity, probably based on the dependability of irrigated crops, is evidenced by the presence of fine Samarran ware and beautiful, translucent marble vessels.

Underfloor graves of adults and children contained terracotta and alabaster statuettes of women and men, in various poses; some of these had the eyes and pointed heads typical of the Ubaid period.

History of research :

The site was excavated by a team from the Iraqi Directorate General of Antiquities in seven seasons between 1964 and 1971. The second season was led by Khalid Ahmad Al-a'dami and the sixth and seventh season by Walid Yasin.

Gallery :

Female figurine from Tell es-Sawwan, Louvre Museum

Mother goddess from Tell es-Sawwan, Iraq, 6000 - 5800 BCE. Iraq Museum

Mother goddess figurine from Tell es-Sawwan, Iraq, 6000 - 5800 BCE. Iraq Museum

Alabaster jar with a necklace from Tell es-Sawwan, Iraq. 6000 - 5800 BCE. Iraq Museum

Bowl with human bones from Tell es-Sawwan, Iraq, 6000 - 5800 BCE. Iraq Museum

Source :

https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Tell_es-Sawwan