New data on the 4th-3rd millennia in Northern Mesopotamia: The ancient occupations at Gird Lashkir in their archaeological contexts

Abstract

New results from recent excavation at Gird Lashkir (Erbil, Kurdistan region, Iraq) are presented in this paper. Data from the most archaic occupation phases so far discovered at the site will be discussed, with special emphasis on the Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age. This article presents data related to architecture and subsistence (bioarchaeological analyses, organic residue analyses, etc.) as well as craft activities (ceramic production, metallurgy, etc.). The general characterisation of the settlement in these periods will be compared to similar horizons in Northern Mesopotamia, particularly in the Erbil Plain. Résumé. Dans cet article, de nouveaux résultats provenant de récents travaux archéologiques à Gird Lashkir (Erbil, région du Kurdistan, Irak) seront présentés. Les données des phases d'occupation les plus anciennes jusqu'ici découvertes sur le site seront discutées, mettant ainsi en avant les données du Chalcolithique tardif et du début de l'âge du Bronze. Cet article présente les donnéesrelatives aux structures d'habitat décrivant plusieurs activités de subsistance (analyses bioarchéologiques, analyses de résidus organiques, etc.) ainsi que des activités productives (production de céramique, métallurgie, etc.). La caractérisation générale du peuplement dans ces périodes sera liée à l'état des connaissances pour des horizons similaires dans le Nord de la Mésopotamie et, plus précisément, dans la plaine d'Erbil.

Bayesian mixing models as a tool to explore Bronze Age bitumen trade from Tell Lashkir (Erbil, Iraq)

“…The site of Tell Lashkir (Fig. 1), is a chronologically long lived settlement with indices of Neolithic presence and clear Uruk, Ninevite 5 (sectors 3 and 6), Middle Bronze Age and Iron Age phases (Gómez-Bach et al, 2018, 2019Molist et al, 2019a;. Excavations at TL started in 2015 thanks to a collaboration between the Autonomous University of Barcelona, The Directorate of Antiquities of the Kurdistan regional Fig.…”

“…Since the start of the excavation, significant quantities of bitumen-bearing potsherds were detected in the site (Breu et al, 2019). Hitherto, four excavation campaigns have certified the presence of bitumen in almost all sectors, especially at the Ninevite 5 period, at the end of the Bronze Age and in the Iron Age (Molist et al, 2019b).…”

“…In Sector 1, placed at the start of the Middle Bronze Age (MBA), four samples were taken from a single large building presenting several storage areas constructed after 2059-1900 2σ cal BC and one sample originated from layers dated after this date. Sector 3 (Ninevite 5, 2887-2636 2σ cal BC, Molist et al, 2019a), containing up to six architectural phases, presented vestiges of earthen architecture related to rectangular buildings. In this sector, samples were collected from the most recent occupation phase.…”

“…Finally, samples from sector 6 were obtained from layers containing exterior areas related to a nearby human installation placed in the first half of the third millennium cal. BC (Early, Middle Ninevite 5, Early Jezirah I-II, Amuq H and G (Molist et al, 2019b).…”

“…Resembling the processes in motion in southern Mesopotamia, this was a product deeply intertwined in the Bronze age way of life. In TL, the detection of obsidian blades, moulds for metallurgical production and a diverse range of pottery types (Molist et al, 2019a) are coherent with the site's nature as a small settlement operating as logistic point through long trade routes crossing Mesopotamia. In this sense, TL would not be unique, as other archaeological sites including Bardastee (Eidem, 2015), Bash Tapa (Marti et al, 2015) or Kani Shaie (Tomé et al, 2015) exhibit similar characteristics (Molist et al, 2019a).…”