Tell Madhhur
تل مظهر · Madhhur Hamrin · Hawr Madhhur
Ubaid through Early Dynastic II (c.5000–2500 BCE); Ubaid 3–4, Uruk, Jemdat Nasr, ED I–II·Ubaid southern → Uruk–Jemdat Nasr → Early Dynastic Diyala regional·🇮🇶 Diyala Governorate, Hamrin basin, Middle Euphrates–Diyala, Iraq
About
About Tell Madhhur
Ubaid through Early Dynastic house mound (c.5000–2500 BCE) in Hamrin basin — British Hamrin salvage (Postgate–Watson 1977–80) before Hamrin Dam. Famous Ubaid–Uruk–ED tripartite house (House 1, Level 2) with courtyard, painted pottery, Jemdat Nasr sealings and stratified ED I–II (3000–2700 BCE) domestic quarter showing continuity across Euphrates urban crash. Linear house plans anticipate Diyala architecture (Khafajah). Now under Hamrin Lake backwater; records Diyala plain pre-dynastic settlement pattern between Haddad (Songor) and al-Ubaide.
Why it mattersBest preserved ED I tripartite house in Diyala; stratigraphy anchors Hamrin Ubaid–Uruk–ED continuity during southern urban collapse.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why House 1 tripartite survives intact — burnt ritual or accidental?
- 02Hamrin ED gap before Akkadian — climate or politics?
Theories
- 01Postgate Hamrin village vs city-state periphery model
- 02Roaf Hamrin salvage settlement pattern vs southern-centric history
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.5000 BCE Ubaid hut; ED I House 1 3000 BCE
- Period
- Ubaid through Early Dynastic II (c.5000–2500 BCE); Ubaid 3–4, Uruk, Jemdat Nasr, ED I–II
- Culture
- Ubaid southern → Uruk–Jemdat Nasr → Early Dynastic Diyala regional
- Builders
- Ubaid southern → Uruk–Jemdat Nasr → Early Dynastic Diyala regional builders
- Purpose
- Hamrin basin village bridging north-south Mesopotamian ceramic spheres with courtyard house economy
- Abandoned
- c.2500 BCE ED II abandonment before Akkadian expansion
- Rediscovered
- Salvage 1977–80 British Archaeological Expedition (Postgate, Watson) Hamrin Dam
- Excavation
- Excavated
2000
Initial work at Tell Madhhur
2015
Stratigraphy and geophysics synthesis for Tell Madhhur
On the ground
Structures & features
34.7420° N · 45.0450° E · 180 m · 3 mapped features
ED I House 1
houseTripartite courtyard house Level 2
34.7422° N · 45.0452° EUbaid–Uruk levels
settlementUbaid 4–Uruk domestic quarter
34.7418° N · 45.0448° ESurvey datum
surveyHamrin survey baseline mound
34.7420° N · 45.0450° E
Gallery