Oueili visit and photos - Page 1

Tell el-‘Oueili
Visited 04.30-05.05, 7 June, 2008

In 1967, Tell el-‘Oueili was located 3 km south-east of the major site of Larsa, and excavations were undertaken by J.-L. Huot and J.-D. Forest from 1976 to 1989.

J.-L. Huot, “Ubaidian village of Lower Mesopotamia: Permanence and evolution from Ubaid 0 to Ubaid 4, as seen from Tell el-‘Oueili”, in E. F. Henrickson and I. Thugesen (eds.), Upon This Foundation: The Ubaid Reconsidered (Copenhagen 1989), pp. 19-42; J.-L. Huot et al., ‘Oueili, Travaux de 1985 (Paris, 1991); J. L. Huot et al., ‘Oueili, Travaux de 1987-1989 (Paris 1996).

Six periods were identified, dating from Ubaid 0 (c. 6000 BC) to Ubaid 5 (c. 4000 BC), and domestic architecture and structures identified as granaries and silos were revealed.

The site was looted in 2003 and there are extensive remains of looter pits, now filled with sand, visible across much of the mound. There is no evidence of recent looting. The site has no fence, guard tower or designated guard. There is a surface scatter of Ubaid-period sherds, sickles and obsidian blades.