Area A

Qalrakh, Area A

The trench in seven steps from top to bottom revealed layers of occupation from the second millennium to the Sasanian period. In particular the late Assyrian, Achaemenid, Hellenistic and Parthian periods are attested in different building phases and mudbrick-walls. In particular the Hellenistic and Parthian occupation is well attested in walls and floors, which could be broached in the topmost three steps. A row of three rooms is cautiously dated to the Parthian period on the basis of pottery and stratigraphic sequencing. Fire-installations / hearths seem to indicate a domestic use of the rooms, which are roughly aligning the slope. Their strong architecture of heavy mudbrick, laid in 2.5 rows per wall, supported the mount in itself, undoubtedly causing the steep appearance of the ancient tell today.

The earlier occupation underlying the Parthian phase is less well-built of only thin walls, constructed from single rows of mudbricks. Unfortunately, in particular the northwestern part of the mound is heavily disturbed by animal burrows, which interfere with the excavation area, destroying contexts and architectural units. Another negative factor remains the erosion, which is quite strong in the upper parts of the ancient mound and leads to the accumulation of thick erosion deposits towards the foot of the mound.

A wall of larger, uncut stones, halfway up the mound can be attributed to the Assyrian period. Pottery and also small unbaked clay figurines of animals are typical for this period; an Assyrian linear-style cylinder seal was found as a stray find in the erosion layers at the lower mound.