The archaeological site of Tel Ghweran is located on the road from Deir Ezzor to the center of Hasaka city, nestled on the bank of Khabur River south of the city.
Excavations indicate that the site was settled during the late Uruk period, prospering during the second half of third millennium BC and reaching the peak of its splendor during the Ayyubid period in the 12th and 13th centuries AD.
The site, which is 80 meters long, 60 meters wide and 11 meters high, was studied for the first time by a German expedition which was surveying the hills on the banks of Khabur River. The expedition found pottery fragments that indicated that the site dates back to the late Stone Age and the Bronze Age.
In 2003, the Syrian expedition began work in the site, undertaking expeditions for four seasons.
In the level dating back to the late Uruk period, the expedition uncovered remains of rooms containing pottery and bronze artefacts and animal bones. Directly above this level was a level dating back to the "third dawn of the dynasties" period containing parts of brick structures including a basin, plaster-covered walls, and parts of two tower-shaped structures.
In the level dating back to the Akkadian period, excavations uncovered walls and parts of rooms built with plaster-covered bricks, in addition to clay bases, jars, cups and bowls.
The level dating back to the Islamic era contains white limestone buildings that contained basins, stables and houses. Finds in this level include silver coins, bronze artefacts such as bracelets and spoons, clay lanterns, animal-shaped figurines, glass bottles, and stamps made of basalt and baked clay bearing geometric shapes.
Author:
H. Sabbagh | Source: Global Arab Network [January 31, 2011]