Tell Nebi Mend — Qadesh South Outer Town
Tell Nebi Mend · Qadesh-on-Orontes Outer · Tell Nebi Mend South
EB IV to Persian (3000 BCE–330 BCE; peak LBA 1500–1200 BCE)·EB Amorite → Middle Bronze Amorite → Hittite Egyptian contested → Neo-Assyrian → Persian·🇸🇾 Homs Governorate, Orontes valley, Qadesh plain, Syria
About
About Tell Nebi Mend — Qadesh South Outer Town
Tell Nebi Mend South is the 8 ha lower town south of 16 ha Tell Nebi Mend (ancient Qadesh) excavated by Peter Parr (London, 1975–92). 7 contact phases EB IV–Persian via Hittite Qadesh war of 1274 BCE. Massive 20 m high early Bronze enclosure, Hittite rock relief fragments, LBA chariot fittings, Neo-Assyrian store pits and Persian period domestic. South annex holds MBA glacis and outer wall to Orontes bend.
Why it mattersOnly tell credibly identified with Qadesh of 1274 BCE battle capturing geopolitics of New Kingdom Egypt vs Hatti.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Confirm 1274 destruction link to Hittite treaty?
Theories
- 01Parr: Qadesh survives as provincial town under Hittite after battle to Neo-Assyrian
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.3000 BCE (EB IV)
- Period
- EB IV to Persian (3000 BCE–330 BCE; peak LBA 1500–1200 BCE)
- Culture
- EB Amorite → Middle Bronze Amorite → Hittite Egyptian contested → Neo-Assyrian → Persian
- Builders
- Amorite Qadesh kings then Hittite suzerainty
- Purpose
- Capital of Amurru kingdom and Hittite–Egyptian frontier after 1274 BCE battle
- Abandoned
- Persian reorganization 330 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1921 M. Pezard; 1975 Parr London
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1975–1992
Parr London campaigns; EB glacis and 1274 layer
1274 BCE
Battle of Qadesh (Ramesses II vs Muwatalli II) horizon
On the ground
Structures & features
34.5500° N · 36.5200° E · 460 m · 3 mapped features
Qadesh EB Glacis Outer Wall
fortificationEB IV 8 m sloping glacis with buttress south annex
34.5507° N · 36.5206° EQadesh LBA Chariot Depot
workshopLBA 13th c. chariot fittings and horse gear south
34.5493° N · 36.5208° EQadesh Hittite Relief Slab
structureHittite guardian lion fragment at south gate
34.5510° N · 36.5194° E