Tell Mozan — Temple BA Terrace (Ancient Urkesh)
Mid 3rd to 2nd Millennium, c.2500–1350 BCE·Hurrian (Urkesh), Mitanni·🇸🇾 Al-Hasakah Governorate, Khabur Headwaters, Syria
About
About Tell Mozan — Temple BA Terrace (Ancient Urkesh)
Temple BA terraced mound at Tell Mozan, ancient Urkesh (Hurrian capital, c.2500–1300 BCE). Buccellati & Kelly-Buccellati 1984-onwards excavated 135-ha city wall, Temple BA high terrace 20 m high with stone revetment, lions at kgate, and underground stair (abi). Mitanni-Hurrian palace archive with lion sealings.
Why it mattersCapital of first Hurrians; abi stair unique mortuary-cult architecture.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Abi pit — necromancy or ancestor shrine function
Theories
- 01Urkesh as Hurro-Urban ancestor of Mitanni
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.2400 BCE Temple BA, rebuilt c.1450 BCE
- Period
- Mid 3rd to 2nd Millennium, c.2500–1350 BCE
- Culture
- Hurrian (Urkesh), Mitanni
- Builders
- Hurrian (King Tupkish, Queen Uqnitum)
- Purpose
- High temple of Kumarbi + palace terrace — Hurrian capital sanctuary
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2400 BCE Temple BA, rebuilt c.1450 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c.500 CE
Major refurbishment / enlargement phase
c.1100 CE
Abandonment or conversion
1890–1930
Modern rediscovery and first scientific survey
On the ground
Structures & features
37.0530° N · 40.8900° E · 450 m · 2 mapped features
Temple BA high terrace — stone revetment and abi stair
terraceRevetment wall with associated underground stair descending to necromantic pit
37.0531° N · 40.8899° EPalace lions and Hurrian archive building (AP)
palaceRoyal Building with lion sculptures and archive of Tupkish tablets
37.0529° N · 40.8901° E