Excavations at Brak and Chagar Bazar

Abstract

Mallowan utilized this double edition to work out some of his conclusions which he had formed based on his work both at Chagar Bazar and Tell Brak. In it, he entertains speculation about the origins of Khabur ware as either from Persia or possibly Armenia, since the data then present suggested this possibility. At Tell Brak he comments on the evidence which to him suggested that the Dynasty of Ur had an interest to trade with the north. He also compares the Sargonid palace at Brak with that of the Assur showing their very similar dimensions. A large part of his work was devoted to the "Eye Temple," first established in the Jemdet Nasr period, at Brak which was named so because of the many thousands of eye-images or idols found in its foundation. It consists of 6 meters of successive 4 temples: 1) Eye-temple; 2) White Eye-temple, named for the presence of a plaster floor; 3) Grey Eye-temple, because of the grey bricks filling the room; 4) Red Eye-temple, the earliest with red slip ware. He compares it with the Sin Temple IV at Khafajah in the first 4 phases. The third chapter returns to Chagar Bazar to report on the third season. Tablets were found in Area TD (room 106) and a roof collapse on the room with Khabur ware provided a context. Level 1 is more firmly placed, adding also the "Latest" phase to Level 1, although dates are admitted to be speculative. The following phases are dated. The early phase with the first presence of Khabur ware is dated just after 1800 BC. The early intermediate phase with the foundation of the temple palace is ca. 1750-1700 BC. The intermediate phase where Khabur ware is everywhere in abundance is ca. 1700-1650 BC. And the late phase, ca. 1650-1550, has Khabur ware with smaller thinner walls. The new, latest phase is devoid of globular Khabur forms. At the end of this period, ca. 1800-1600, Khabur and Nuzi wares overlap.