Tell Chuera
Encyclopedia
Tell Chuera is an ancient Near Eastern tell
site in Ar Raqqah Governorate
, northern Syria
. It lies between the Balikh and Khabur
rivers.
ns during the 2nd millennium.
While the early name for the city is unknown, during Middle Assyrian times it was known as Harbe.
The site was first described by Max von Oppenheim
in 1913.
Excavations were begun in 1958 by a team from the Free University of Berlin
led by Anton Moortgat
. These efforts continued until the late 1960s.
With a new co-leader, Ursula Moortgat-Correns, digs occurred in 1973, 1974 and
1976.
Archaeological work at the site then came under the direction of
Winfried Orthmann of the University of Halle, until 1998.
Excavation then was taken up by a team from the Goethe University Frankfurt, under the direction of Professor Jan-Waalke Meyer.
Tell
A tell or tel, is a type of archaeological mound created by human occupation and abandonment of a geographical site over many centuries. A classic tell looks like a low, truncated cone with a flat top and sloping sides.-Archaeology:A tell is a hill created by different civilizations living and...
site in Ar Raqqah Governorate
Ar Raqqah Governorate
Ar Raqqah is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is situated in the north of the country and covers an area of 19,616 km². The governorate has a population of 921,000...
, northern Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. It lies between the Balikh and Khabur
Khabur River
The Khabur River , , , ) is the largest perennial tributary to the Euphrates in Syrian territory. Although the Khabur originates in Turkey, the karstic springs around Ra's al-'Ayn are the river's main source of water. Several important wadis join the Khabur north of Al-Hasakah, together creating...
rivers.
History
Originally occupied during the 4th millennium, Tell Chuera became a major site in the 3rd millennium during the Early Dynastic period. It reached its peak around 2350 BC and was then abandoned for reasons as yet unknown. A small settlement was built on the location by the AssyriaAssyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
ns during the 2nd millennium.
While the early name for the city is unknown, during Middle Assyrian times it was known as Harbe.
Archaeology
The site of Tell Chuera is roughly 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) in diameter and 18 metres (59.1 ft) high.The site was first described by Max von Oppenheim
Max von Oppenheim
Max Freiherr von Oppenheim was a German ancient historian, and archaeologist, "the last of the great amateur archaeological explorers of the Near East."....
in 1913.
Excavations were begun in 1958 by a team from the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
led by Anton Moortgat
Anton Moortgat
Anton Moortgat was a Belgian archaeologist. He was the first full professor for the archaeology of the ancient near east in Germany.- Biography :...
. These efforts continued until the late 1960s.
With a new co-leader, Ursula Moortgat-Correns, digs occurred in 1973, 1974 and
1976.
Archaeological work at the site then came under the direction of
Winfried Orthmann of the University of Halle, until 1998.
Excavation then was taken up by a team from the Goethe University Frankfurt, under the direction of Professor Jan-Waalke Meyer.