Hamoukar facts for kids
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Khirbat al-Fakhar
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 Location in Syria
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| Location | Syria |
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| Region | Al Hasakah Governorate |
| Coordinates | 36°48′55″N 41°57′21″E / 36.81528°N 41.95583°E |
| Area | 105-300 ha |
| History | |
| Founded | around 4500 BC |
| Abandoned | around 1200 BC |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1999 to 2010 |
| Archaeologists | Clemens D. Reichel, McGuire Gibson |
Hamoukar (Arabic: حموكار), also called Khirbat al-Fakhar, is a very old archaeological site in northeastern Syria. It is found in the Jazira region, close to the borders of Iraq and Turkey.
This ancient city started around 4500 BC. It grew at the same time as the Ubaid and early Uruk cultures. Hamoukar was a major center for making things from obsidian, a type of volcanic glass. By the 3rd millennium BC, it was one of the largest cities in Northern Mesopotamia.
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Discovering Hamoukar's Past
For a long time, people thought that the first cities began in southern Mesopotamia. This area, now southern Iraq, is where ancient cities like Ur and Uruk appeared around 4000 BC.
However, discoveries at Hamoukar changed this idea. Archaeologists now think that the "Cradle of Civilization" might have included northern Syria too. This means that early cities could have developed in more than one place at the same time.
When Hamoukar Was Inhabited
Hamoukar was first settled in the 5th millennium BC. This was during a time called the Late Chalcolithic 2 period. It was a large area, covering about 280 hectares.
The city really grew in the early 4th millennium BC. It continued to expand through the Uruk period. People lived there, though in smaller numbers, until the end of the 2nd millennium BC. After that, the site was abandoned.
Other important ancient sites nearby include Chagar Bazar, Tell Arbid, and Tell Brak.
Uncovering Ancient Hamoukar
The site of Hamoukar has a tall mound, about 18 meters high. This part was first settled in the early 4th millennium BC. Around it is a lower town, about 5 meters high. This lower area was settled later, in the middle 3rd millennium BC.
The entire site reached a maximum size of 98 hectares. A modern village, al-Hurriya, now covers about 40 hectares of the ancient city.
How Archaeologists Explored the Site
Archaeologists first looked at Hamoukar in the 1950s. They noticed a two-level plateau with a ditch. In 1963, a map based on aerial photos was made. It showed the mound was very large.
Excavations began in 1999. A joint team from the University of Chicago and the Syrian government worked there. The digs continued until 2010. They started by surveying the surface in detail.
Evidence of a Prosperous City
During the 2001 excavations, archaeologists found a large trench in the lower town. This area was once a busy residential neighborhood. It showed signs of being very wealthy.
However, it also showed that the city was attacked and abandoned around 3500 BC. This suggests a sudden end to this part of Hamoukar's history.
Ancient Bureaucracy and Art
Thousands of clay sealings have been found at Hamoukar. These were like ancient locks, used to protect doors or containers. They had unique designs pressed into them using stamp seals. These findings show that Hamoukar had a complex system for managing goods and trade.
Archaeologists also found "Eye Idols" made of alabaster or bone. These small figures have large, staring eyes. Similar Eye Idols have been found at Tell Brak. Tell Brak was another very large settlement from the same time in Syria.
Obsidian: A Key Resource
Many pieces of obsidian were found across the Hamoukar site. Obsidian is a dark, glass-like rock formed from volcanoes. Workshops for making obsidian tools and weapons were found in the lower town. These workshops were used for centuries before the city's destruction around 3500 BC.
Obsidian does not naturally occur in the Hamoukar area. This means it had to be brought in from somewhere else. Chemical tests confirm that the obsidian came from Mount Nemrut in modern-day Turkey. This mountain is about 170 kilometers north of Hamoukar.
Independent Trade Networks
These findings were a big surprise for many archaeologists. They show that people in northern Mesopotamia had their own trade networks. These networks existed independently, without needing the influence of southern cities like Ur and Uruk. This suggests a more complex and widespread ancient economy than previously thought.
Early Urban Development
Northern Mesopotamia saw big changes during the LC1-2 periods (4400-3800 BC). People developed complex social systems. They also started working with metals and creating unique pottery styles.
Hamoukar, also known as Khirbat al-Fakhar, was an early urban settlement during this time. It was described as a "vast low or flat scatter of pottery and obsidian." This means it was more like many small settlements spread out over a large area. The population was not very dense at this stage.
Proto-Urban Settlements
This type of early settlement is called "proto-urban." It means it was developing towards being a city but wasn't quite like the later, more organized cities. Tell Brak also started as a similar "proto-urban" settlement.
During the Late Chalcolithic 1 and 2 periods (LC1-2), Khirbat al-Fakhar grew to a massive size of 300 hectares. This was even larger than Uruk was at the same time. This shows Hamoukar was a very important and large center in its early days.
Evidence of Ancient Warfare
Excavations in 2005 and 2006 showed that Hamoukar was destroyed around 3500 BC. This might be the earliest evidence of warfare between cities found in the archaeological record of the Near East.
Archaeologists found slings and thousands of clay bullets. These suggest that the city was under siege. There were also many signs of widespread destruction. It is not clear who attacked Hamoukar. However, the next layer of occupation at the site belongs to the Uruk civilization. This suggests the city might have been taken over by forces from the south.
See also
- Cities of the Ancient Near East
