Halaf culture

The Halaf culture was a Chalcolithic culture in northern Mesopotamia, Syria, parts of Turkey, and to the border with Iran and beyond. It flourished from about 5200-4500 BC name is obtainable locality Tell Halaf in Syria. Other important localities are Tell Arpachiyah (Iraq) and Yarim Tepe. In its expansion it was one of the most extensive cultures of the time of which are known to many other sites. Many, however, have hardly been explored.

There are four phases: early, middle, late and a Halaf Obeid transition phase. During this phase a dispersion of the culture is observed. The core area lay on the Tigris River in northern Iraq and eastern Syria ..

The Halaf culture today is characterized primarily by its ceramics. This is partly decorated richly, with the painted goods is only part of the entire ceramic volume and occurring with increasing frequency in certain places. Especially at the periphery of the area of the Halaf culture can be found in addition to the typical Halaf pottery and vessels whose forms are based on local traditions. The older vessels are painted with simple, red or black geometric patterns. The later decorated vessels are more complicated and also show geometric patterns in red and black, which were partially painted over with white paint. Some vessels have animal or human form. The clay used is very fine and bright, it also small clay figures, especially of nude women were prepared. There were stone vessels.

The settlements of the Halaf culture consisted of round huts, which could have a diameter of three to seven meters. They were built of clay, mud brick or stone. Some had a rectangular extension, which perhaps served as a memory. In various places, rectangular buildings were excavated. The houses were small villages that barely exceeded one hectare in size. Only a few settlements seem to have been more than 10 acres in size and it may well have been here to regional centers.

Little is known about the burial customs. In Yarim Tepe was found grave shafts with a small side chamber in which the corpse was laid down. There is also evidence of cremations and that the skull was buried separately from the body.

Economic base was agriculture. Einkorn, emmer and hexaploid wheat are bearing witness, and various types of peas were grown. At pets sheep, goats, pigs and dogs are occupied. Wild animals were hunted. Copper was known.