Tell el-'Oueili (also Awayli; Mesopotamian Arabic: تل العويلي, romanized: Təll əl-ʿOwēli) is a tell, or ancient settlement mound, located in Dhi Qar Governorate, southern Iraq. The site was excavated between 1976 and 1989 by French archaeologists under the direction of Jean-Louis Huot. The excavations have revealed occupation layers predating those of Eridu, making Tell el-'Oueili the earliest known human settlement in Lower Mesopotamia.
Shown within Iraq | |
Location | Iraq |
---|---|
Region | Dhi Qar Governorate |
Coordinates | 31°14′35″N 45°53′06″E / 31.243°N 45.885°E |
Type | settlement |
Length | 200 metres (660 ft) |
Height | 5 metres (16 ft) |
History | |
Founded | 6500-5400 BCE |
Abandoned | before 3000 BCE |
Periods | Ubaid |
Site notes | |
Excavation dates | 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989 |
Archaeologists | A. Parrot. J.-L. Huot |
The site was first noted and surveyed by French scholar André Parrot, who at the time was working at nearby Larsa.[1] Two small excavation seasons took place in 1976 and 1978, and regular excavations commenced in 1981.[2][3] Four more seasons took place in every uneven year until 1989.[4][5] All excavations were directed by French archaeologist Jean-Louis Huot.[6]
The site measures 200 metres (660 ft) in diameter and is approximately 5 metres (16 ft) high.[1] It is located ca. 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) southeast of Larsa in Dhi Qar Governorate, southern Iraq. The environment of 'Oueili is characterized by temperatures that can reach more than 50 °C in summer and less than 250 mm of annual rainfall, making the area unsuitable for rainfed agriculture.[7]
Tell el-'Oueili was occupied during the Ubaid period.[8] The excavations have revealed occupation layers dating from Ubaid 0 (6500-5400 BCE) to Ubaid 4. The phase Ubaid 0 was first discovered at this site and was hence provisionally termed 'Oueili-phase.[3] A surface survey showed that the site was occupied into the Uruk Period.[9]