HollowayTop

Tell Sabi Abyad ("Mound of the White Boy"), Level 6

This site is in the Balk River valley in northern Syria, and was inhabited 7500-5500 BCE. The Halafian Culture, which origin is speculated to be Anatolia or Mesopotamia is credited with the construction. Earliest pottery of Syria was discovered here, dated 6900-6800 BCE. Called today the "Burnt Village" because it was destroyed by violent fire c. 5200 BCE. It was rebuilt and later abandoned in 1250 BCE. House walls were pisé, with very regular grid layout. Entry to interior rooms was through walls or roofs. Ovens and fireplaces were absent inside houses and were located in courtyards or in small ancillary buildings. "Behive ovens" found were as tall as a man. In the courtyards and open areas surrounding the houses were plastered circular structures, up to 5 meters in diameter. These "tholoi" were invented pre-Halafian perhaps in Hassunan culture.

Elevation is c.350 m. (1100 ft.) above sea level.

Construction materials: lime plastered pisé walls, horizontal wood log roof beams with reed and clay roofing.

Source of data for CG model:
1.Ackermans, Peter M M G,, 2000; Old and New Perspectives on the Origins of the Halaf Culture, In: O. Rouault & M. Wäfler (eds.), La Djéziré et l'Euphrate syriens de la Protohistoire à la fin du IIe millénaire av.J.-C. Turnhout: Brepols (2000)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/28646839_Old_and_New_Perspectives_on_the_Origins_of_the_Halaf_Culture
2. Ackermans, Peter M.M.G., (editor),1996; TELL SABI ABYAD
THE LATE NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT (Vol. 1), Report on the Excavations of the University of Amsterdam ( 198X) and the National Museum of Antiquities Leiden (1991-1993) in Syria, NEDERLANDS IIISTORISCH-ARCHAEOLOOISCH INSU 1 1 l lTE ISTANBUL
1996.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261600297_Tell_Sabi_Abyad_-_The_Late_Neolithic_Settlement_Vol_1

  • My Gallery: Image
  • My Gallery: Image
  • My Gallery: Image
  • My Gallery: Image
Thumbnail panels:
Now Loading
© 2009, Dennis R. Holloway Architect