Architectural and funeral practices at tell Abu Thahab

Abstract EN

Excavated by the Iraqi state board of antiquities and heritage, tell Abu Thahab is located about 45 km to the southeast of Di Qar Province in the Iraqi Marshlands.

the site is oval and is divided into two parts, the eastern and western mounds, by a small river.

excavated over three seasons (2011-2013), the settlement unearthed a rich and diverse material culture, including private and public architecture, graves, and artifacts, such as ceramics and jewelry.

based on a preliminary on-site examination of the architecture and the ceramic, the excavators concluded that the site belongs to the old Babylonian period.

in this paper we will first synthesize the excavation results, focusing on architecture and tombs.

by comparing this data with other sites in this region, we will attempt to reconstruct the socio-economic organization of the settlement.