Lidar Höyük Euphrates Terrace
Lidar Terrace · Lidar Hoyuk South Terrace
Chalcolithic to Medieval (4300 BCE–1400 CE)·Chalcolithic → EB → MBA → Hittite → Hellenistic → Islamic·🇹🇷 Şanlıurfa Province, Bozova District, Atatürk Dam Euphrates Right Bank, Turkey
About
About Lidar Höyük Euphrates Terrace
Lidar Höyük Euphrates Terrace is the 8.5-ha southern alluvial terrace below Lidar Höyük main mound on the Euphrates right bank — excavated by Hauptmann before the Atatürk reservoir rose. Terrace stratigraphy (4300 BCE–1400 CE) couples Chalcolithic Hassuna–Halaf fishers, an EBA fortified town with Ninevite V ware, and a Hittite ashlar quay below the main citadel — documenting Euphrates riverside settlement adjacent to Kurban–Titriş while Titriş 11.5 km SE tracks upland urbanism. Terrace now lies at reservoir edge, partly inundated.
Why it mattersRiverside terrace long-sequence — 4300 BCE–1400 CE Euphrates terrace vs. Titriş upland comparison
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Terrace as harbour or residential suburb of Lidar?
- 02Hittite quay as port or flood defense?
Theories
- 01Hauptmann Lidar terrace vs. upland Kurban–Titriş complementarity
- 02Atatürk salvage terrace inundation diachrony
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.4300 BCE Chalcolithic; EBA town 3100 BCE; Hittite 1600 BCE
- Period
- Chalcolithic to Medieval (4300 BCE–1400 CE)
- Culture
- Chalcolithic → EB → MBA → Hittite → Hellenistic → Islamic
- Builders
- Chalcolithic fishers, Hittite garrison, Islamic riverside dwellers
- Purpose
- Euphrates terrace south of Lidar Höyük main mound — long-sequence riverside tell under Atatürk reservoir influence, 11.5km NW Titriş
- Abandoned
- c.1400 CE Islamic reoccupation ends; terrace drowned partially 1990
- Rediscovered
- Salvage excavated 1979–87 Hauptmann (Heidelberg) before dam
- Excavation
- Buried
1979
Hauptmann opens Lidar terrace, Chalcolithic fisher village found
1984
Hittite quay and EBA Ninevite V town published
1990
Atatürk reservoir rise submerges lowest terrace 2 m
On the ground
Structures & features
37.3600° N · 38.3000° E · 515 m · 3 mapped features
Chalcolithic Fisher Village (Hassuna–Halaf)
settlementChalcolithic pit-houses with Halaf painted ware terrace base 4300 BCE
37.3608° N · 38.3006° EHittite Ashlar Quay Fragment
harbourHittite ashlar river quay below main citadel 1600 BCE terrace edge
37.3593° N · 38.2991° EEBA Fortified Town (Ninevite V)
fortificationEBA mudbrick enceinte with Ninevite V incised ware on terrace 3100 BCE
37.3611° N · 38.3007° E