Choga Mami
چغا مامي · Chogha Mami · Choga Mami, Diyala
Samarran to Ubaid (c.6000–5000 BCE; Samarran floruit 6000–5500 BCE)·Samarran → Choga Mami Transitional → Ubaid·🇮🇶 Diyala Governorate, Mandali, Lower Diyala–Deh Luran border, Iraq
About
About Choga Mami
Low Samarran mound east of Mandali on the Diyala-Deh Luran piedmont, excavated by Joan Oates 1967–68. Samarran painted houses, tripartite granaries and 2 km plastered canal (5900 BCE) prove artificial irrigation before Ubaid — hallmark of Lower Mesopotamian farming expansion.
Why it mattersType-site for Samarran irrigation (6th millennium) — 2 km canal is earliest known Mesopotamian artificial irrigation channel.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Canal labour organization — communal or elite-directed?
Theories
- 01Oates irrigation origins model (Oates 1969) vs Wilkinson runoff
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Samarran village c.6000 BCE; irrigation canal c.5900 BCE
- Period
- Samarran to Ubaid (c.6000–5000 BCE; Samarran floruit 6000–5500 BCE)
- Culture
- Samarran → Choga Mami Transitional → Ubaid
- Builders
- Samarran communities
- Purpose
- Earliest Mesopotamian irrigated Samarran village on Mandali alluvium
- Rediscovered
- Modern archaeological survey/ rescue
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.6000 BCE
Samarran village founded
c.5900 BCE
Plastered irrigation canal dug
c.5400 BCE
Transitional painted ware
1967
Oates Iraqi Directorate excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
33.8500° N · 45.4500° E · 140 m · 3 mapped features
Choga Mami — West workshop
dwellingKey sub-area of Choga Mami (Samarran to Ubaid) showing Samarran horizon
33.8492° N · 45.4498° EChoga Mami — Ceremonial building
kilnKey sub-area of Choga Mami (Samarran to Ubaid) showing Samarran horizon
33.8500° N · 45.4504° EChoga Mami — Storage quarter
granaryKey sub-area of Choga Mami (Samarran to Ubaid) showing Samarran horizon
33.8508° N · 45.4510° E