Show simple item record

dc.coverage.spatialSite: Tepe Gawra (Iraq)en_US
dc.coverage.temporalcreation date: ca. 5000-ca. 1000 BCEen_US
dc.creatorunknown (Mesopotamian)en_US
dc.dateca. 5000-ca. 1000 BCEen_US
dc.date.accessioned2008-02-28T17:53:30Z
dc.date.available2008-02-28T17:53:30Z
dc.date.issued-5500--500en_US
dc.identifier110571en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.3/24935en_US
dc.descriptionAncient Mesopotamian mound, north-east of modern Mosul in Iraq. The site, which was excavated by E. A. Speiser (1927, 1931–2 and 1936–7) and Charles Bache (1932–6 and 1937–8), is noted for its informative remains dating to the 4th and 5th millennia bc, including rich graves of the Uruk period and the ‘acropolis’ of late Ubaid times (see fig.). The archaeological materials are in the Iraq Museum, Baghdad, and the University Museum, Philadelphia. The upper levels of the site (numbered I–X) have been totally excavated, providing rare evidence of settlement architecture. Levels I–IV are dated to the 2nd millennium bc, with fine examples of Nuzi and Khabur ceramic types. The preceding levels make up a chronological sequence including Ur III (level V), Sargonic (VI), Early Dynastic/Ninevite 5 (VII), Uruk, including Jemdet Nasr (VIII–XII), late Ubaid (XIII–XIX) and Halaf (XX). Material of the Halaf period was also recovered from soundings at the base of the mound. The most notable objects from the site are those from the brick or stone-built Uruk tombs (4th millennium bc), including decorative objects in gold, a unique electrum wolf’s head (Baghdad, Iraq Mus.), beautifully carved stone bowls (of marble, serpentine and, unusually, obsidian), ivory combs, and plaques and beads of lapis lazuli and other exotic materials. Of especial importance, too, is the vast quantity of seal impressions on clay, which constitute a major source for the Ubaid and Uruk periods. The designs include linear and geometric patterns, drilled designs (rare), naturalistic motifs including animals, humans (sometimes in erotic pose), fishes, snakes and scorpions. Of particular significance is the large number of sealings from the ‘acropolis’ of level XIII, suggesting their possible association with some centralized economy already in Ubaid times. Jemdet Nasr animal stamp-seals were found in level VIII, and cylinder seals are first reported in level VII.en_US
dc.descriptionplan (drawing), Level VIII C, temple, and Level XI A, row of housesen_US
dc.relation.ispartof130352en_US
dc.subjectIraq --Antiquitiesen_US
dc.subjectMesopotamiaen_US
dc.subjectTemples --Iraqen_US
dc.subjectArchitecture, Ancient --Iraqen_US
dc.subjectArchaeological sites --Iraqen_US
dc.titleTepe Gawraen_US
dc.typeImageen_US
dc.rights.accessAll rights reserveden_US
vra.culturalContextMesopotamianen_US
vra.culturalContextNear Easternen_US
vra.worktypeCity, Archaeological siteen_US
dc.contributor.displayunknown (Mesopotamian)en_US


Files in this item

250.3Kb
JPEG image
550.9Kb
JPEG image
29.82Kb
JPEG image

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record