Tell Yelkhi
Tell Yelkhi, is an ancient Near East archaeological site in Diyala Governorate. It was examined as part of the Hamrin Dam salvage excavation before it flooded. Other sites a part of that rescue excavation included, Me-Turan, Tell Gubah, Tell Songor, Tellul Hamediyat, Tell Rubeidheh, Tell Madhur, Tell Imlihiye, Tell Rashid, Tell Saadiya and Tell Abada. Some of these sites, including Tell Yelkhi, periodically emerge from the water. The site of Tell Yelkhi was settled in the early 3rd millennium BC and occupation continued through the Kassite period late in the 2nd millennium BC. Its name in ancient times is not yet known though Awalki has been suggested.
Archaeology
The oval mound rises about 12 meters above the plain, having two peaks, one lower than the other, and covers an area of about 4 hectares. The edges of the main mound have eroded somewhat, removing some Level I Kassite remains, and modern period graves have damaged the site. Tell Yelkhi was excavated for three seasons, from 1977 to 1980, by a team from the Italian Archaeological Expedition led by Antonio Invernizzi and G. Bergamini. Excavation was conducted in two areas A, at the top of the mound exposing Levels I and II, and B, a 30 by 10 meter stratigraphic trench on the southeast side of the mound exposing Levels III, IV and V, VI, VII, and VIII. Additionally, four 4-meter by 4-meter soundings on the tell reached virgin soil, exposing Levels IX and X. Excavators defined ten occupation levels. As part of the excavation a photogrammatical survey was conducted. Stratigraphic soundings and minor excavations were also conducted on some of the surrounding area and sites.- Level IX/X - Early Dynastic, partially below water table. ED cylinder seal found in grave.
- Level VIII - Akkadian Empire. Residential occupation with a large industrial area on the western part.
- Level VI/VII - Ur III. A monumental temple complex with a courtyard and buttressed doorways and containing an altar was built on a foundation of pure sand on Level VI, found on the eastern part. A large rectangular building with pods built on mud brick arches was found on the western part.
- Level IV/V - Isin-Larsa period. A large palace with a courtyard and about 70 cuneiform tablets holding administrative texts was found on Level V. Burial chambers and graves were excavated. A large public building designed for storage was excavated, on Level V, holding many storage jars containing remnants of cereals. Numerous cylindrical beakers were also found in this space. Carbon-14 samples were taken. This building was destroyed by fire and, combined with other evidence from the level, led the excavators to believe the city was sacked. A high-status grave of a tall woman with some metal ornaments was found in the floor of the main room of the building.
- Level III - Old Babylonian and Eshnunna. Forty cuneiform tablets and fragments were found, associated with a small rectangular temple containing an altar and offering table. Mainly industrial activities. Two phases, IIIa and IIIb.
- Period of abandonment
- Level II - Mitanni, Sealand, and Elamite. Remains heavily cut by the Level I foundations.
- Level I - Kassite. A large 12-room fortified palace built with thick walls and "particularly deep foundations" covers most of the main mound. It was in use from the early through to the late Kassite period. It was cut by an Islamic cemetery of recent date.
Eight tablets were omen texts. An archive, found in the same layer mentions the Babylon ruler Ibal-pi-el II. Tablets in a strata contemporary to Level I at the nearby site of Tell Imlihiye carried the names of Kassite rulers Kadasman-Enlil, Kudur-Enlil, Sagarakti-Surias, and Kastilias IV.
A number of terracotta figurines were excavated in Levels I to VI. In the Kassite remains barley, dates, and legumes were found. A bronze fenestrated shaft hole axe was found in a grave in the Isin-Larsa level.